Processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

ABSTRACT

A processing apparatus includes: a processing unit that performs plural predetermined processes; a display unit; a creation unit that creates a first process receiving portion and a second process receiving portion, each of which receives an instruction to any one of the plural predetermined processes on the display unit; and an execution portion that executes the process, in a case where the instruction is received by the first process receiving portion, after receiving the instruction again, whereas, in a case where the instruction is received by the second process receiving portion, the execution portion executing the process without receiving the instruction again.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application based upon U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/275,312, filed May 12, 2014 and claims the benefit of priorityfrom Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-257482 filed Dec. 12, 2013 andJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-257483 filed Dec. 12, 2013, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirely by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a processing apparatus and anon-transitory computer readable medium storing a program.

Related Art

It is desired for a processing apparatus and a processing method to becapable of, in creating a process receiving portion, creating a processreceiving portion that performs an execution operation of a process inaccordance with a purpose of a user, compared to a case where it is onlypossible to select a single kind of operation when an instruction of aprocess is received.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aprocessing apparatus including: a processing unit that performs pluralpredetermined processes; a display unit; a creation unit that creates afirst process receiving portion and a second process receiving portion,each of which receives an instruction to any one of the pluralpredetermined processes on the display unit; and an execution portionthat executes the process, in a case where the instruction is receivedby the first process receiving portion, after receiving an instructionagain, whereas, in a case where the instruction is received by thesecond process receiving portion, the execution portion executing theprocess without receiving the instruction again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram exemplifying a hardware configuration of animage forming apparatus related to a first exemplary embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example in a display part;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen after aselection button “copy” on a home screen shown in FIG. 2 is selected bya user;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example in the display part;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen when aselection button “box storage” on the home screen shown in FIG. 2 isselected;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing examples of the display screen whena second tab is selected: FIG. 6A is a diagram showing other settingitems able to be set in box storage; and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing adisplay screen for inputting a file name;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen after aselection button “personal print” is selected;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen after afile is selected;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing examples of the display screen whena user creates a one-touch selection button: FIG. 9A shows a screen whena mail is sent; FIG. 9B shows a screen for creating the one-touchselection button; and FIG. 9C shows a state in which the one-touchselection button is displayed on the home screen;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a list of the one-touchselection buttons;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is created;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a creation screen displayed on the displaypart when the one-touch selection button is created;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the home screen in which the one-touchselection button having been created is displayed;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is executed;

FIGS. 15A to 15C are diagrams showing examples of the display screenwhen a user creates a one-touch selection button in a second exemplaryembodiment: FIG. 15A shows a screen when a mail is sent; FIG. 15B showsa screen for creating the one-touch selection button; and FIG. 15C showsa state in which the one-touch selection button is displayed on the homescreen;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is created;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is displayed on the homescreen;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state in which the one-touch selectionbutton having been created is displayed on the home screen;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case in which aone-touch selection button for displaying a confirmation screen isarranged lately on the home screen;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is displayed on the homescreen in a third exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are diagrams showing examples of states in which theone-touch selection button is arranged on the home screen: FIG. 21Ashows a state in which the first page of the home screen is displayed inthe display part; and FIG. 21B shows a state in which the second page ofthe home screen is displayed in the display part;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is displayed on the homescreen in a fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a one-touchselection button created by another person is displayed on the homescreen;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is displayed on the homescreen in a fifth exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are diagrams showing examples of states in which theone-touch selection button is arranged on the home screen: FIG. 25Ashows a state in which the first page of the home screen is displayed inthe display part; and FIG. 25B shows a state in which the second page ofthe home screen is displayed in the display part; and

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by acontroller when the one-touch selection button is moved in a displayregion of the home screen in a sixth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present inventionwill be described with reference to attached drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram exemplifying a hardware configuration of animage forming apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The imageforming apparatus 10 is provided with a controller 100, a memory 105, adisplay part 107, an image reader 108, an image forming part 109, acommunication part 110 and an image processing part 111. It should benoted that each of these functional parts is connected to a bus 101, anddata transmission and reception are performed via the bus 101.

The controller 100 performs control of each of the above-describedfunctional parts provided in the image forming apparatus 10. Here, thecontroller 100 is configured with a CPU (central processing unit) 102, aROM (read only memory) 103 and a RAM (random access memory) 104. The ROM103 stores a control program executed by the CPU 102. The CPU 102 readsthe control program stored in the ROM 103 and executes the controlprogram using the RAM 104 as a work area.

When the control program is executed by the CPU 102, the memory 105, thedisplay part 107, the image reader 108, the image forming part 109, thecommunication part 110 and the image processing part 111, which are thefunctional parts of the image forming apparatus 10, are controlled.Accordingly, for example, predetermined display is performed on thedisplay part 107, or, image formation on a recording medium, such as asheet, is performed. Moreover, reading of a document set on the imagereader 108, etc., is performed. The controller 100 is an example of aprocessing unit, creation unit and an execution portion.

It should be noted that the program executed by the CPU 102 can beprovided in a state of being stored in a computer-readable recordingmedium, such as a magnetic recording medium (a magnetic tape, a magneticdisk, etc.), an optical recording medium (an optical disk, etc.), amagneto-optical recording medium and a semiconductor memory. Moreover,the program may be downloaded to the image forming apparatus 10 by useof a communication tool such as the Internet.

The display part 107 is configured with, for example, a touch paneldisplay of a liquid crystal and displays data related to, for example,the image forming apparatus 10 under the control of the controller 100.Moreover, the display part 107 displays a display screen for receivingan operation by a user, and receives the operation by the user via thedisplay screen. It should be noted that, by inputting information foridentifying a user, a display screen for the user is displayed.

As the input of the information for identifying a user, for example, amethod in which an ID card that records an identification number (an ID(identification) number) assigned to each user and is owned by the eachuser is held over, for example, a not-shown ID card reader, to therebycause the ID card reader to read an ID number recorded in the ID card, amethod in which an identification number or a password registered foreach user is inputted to a display screen by the user by oneself, andthe like may be applied. The information for identifying a user may beinputted by other methods. The display part 107 displays a one-touchselection button 21, a selection button 21 or the like in a displayregion in the display screen.

The image reader 108 includes an image reading device (a scanner) thatreads a document and generates image data representing an image of thedocument having been read and obtained, and outputs generated image datato the image processing part 111.

The image forming part 109 includes an image forming mechanism thatforms a toner image corresponding to the image data onto a recordingmedium, such as a sheet, by an electrophotographic system or the like.The communication part 110 is connected to a not-shown communicationline, to thereby function as a communication interface performingcommunications with other devices connected to the communication line.The image processing part 111 performs image processing such as colorcorrection or halftone correction on the image data to be inputted, andgenerates image data having been subjected to the image processing andoutputs thereof to the image forming part 109. The memory 105 includes amemory device such as a hard disk device, and stores, for example, datareceived by the communication part 110 or data generated in the imageforming apparatus 10.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example in the display part 107.In the display part 107, by an input of information for identifying auser, a home screen shown in the figure is displayed as an example of adisplay screen registered for the user. The home screen shown in thefigure includes a display of “Taro Fuji” on a top left portion of thedisplay screen, which is a display screen for an identified user “TaroFuji”.

In the home screen, plural selection buttons 21 indicated by icons aredisplayed, and when a user selects any of the selection buttons 21(presses the touch panel), a process associated with the selectionbutton 21 is received and a function corresponding to the process isexecuted. The selection buttons 21 are an example of the processreceiving unit.

Specifically, in the home screen shown in FIG. 2, the selection buttons21 corresponding to respective kinds of processes “copy”, “box storage”,“ID card copy”, “access to media”, “mail”, “print”, “PC storage” and“fax” are displayed. In the exemplary embodiment, when any of theseselection buttons 21 is selected by a user, a screen for performingdetailed settings or confirmations of the process corresponding to theselected selection button 21 is further displayed. Thereafter, bypressing a predetermined button, such as a start button, by the user, aprocess of copying or the like is started.

The home screen of the exemplary embodiment is configured with pluralpages, and is controlled by the controller 100 so that, when a userpushes out a so-called “background” portion, which is the portion otherthan the selection buttons 21 in the display screen shown in FIG. 2,toward the left in the figure while pressing the “background” portion,the display screen is switched to a display screen of another page. Inother words, in the exemplary embodiment, by a so-called flickingoperation, switching of pages of the home screen is executed. After thepage switching is performed, other selection buttons 21 that have notappeared in the page before the flicking operation is performed come toappear.

Moreover, in the display part 107 of the exemplary embodiment, it ispossible to move each of the selection buttons 21 by operation.Specifically, the selection button 21 can be moved by a user movinghis/her finger while pressing the selection button 21 by the finger. Inother words, in the exemplary embodiment, movement of the selectionbutton 21 is executed by a drag-and-drop operation.

In the exemplary embodiment, if any one of the selection buttons 21 iscontinuously pressed for a predetermined time or more, or a gear-shapedmark positioned at the top right of the screen (a mark indicated by areference sign 2A) is pressed in a state where any one of the selectionbuttons 21 is selected, the display screen is switched to enabledetailed settings of the process associated with the selection button21.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display screen after the selection button21 for “copy” shown in FIG. 2 is selected (pressed) by a user. Asindicated by reference signs 3A and 3B, the display screen has aconfiguration provided with two tabs (hereinafter, referred to as “firsttab 3A” and “second tab 3B”). If there are only two tabs like this, abutton required by the user (a button to be operated) exists in one ofthe two tabs.

That is, even if the button required by the user (the button to beoperated) does not exist in the displayed tab, by moving to the othertab, the button required by the user surely exists in the destinationtab. Consequently, compared to the case where there are not less thanthree tabs, such as four or five tabs, the user can reduce the number oftimes of moving to the tabs until the tab in which the required button(the button to be operated) exists is selected. In other words, if thereare many tabs, it becomes difficult to grasp which function is includedin which tab; however, as in the exemplary embodiment, if there are onlytwo tabs, it becomes easy to grasp in which tab the required functionexists.

Here, in the display part 107, in the state where the first tab 3A isselected, setting items such as “duplex/simplex/bookbinding”, “number ofcopies”, “number of N-ups (number of pages aggregated in one page)”,“magnification”, “color mode”, “sheet selection” and “stapling” aredisplayed as shown in FIG. 3. In other words, in the exemplaryembodiment, in the display screen when the first tab 3A is selected, thesetting items that are assumed to be relatively and frequently changedby the user are displayed. On the other hand, the setting items that arenot assumed to be relatively and frequently changed by the user aredisplayed, as shown in FIG. 4 (a diagram showing a display example inthe display part 107), in a display screen when the second tab 3B isselected.

In the display screen shown in FIG. 4, the setting items (the items tobe set by the user) are arranged in the vertical direction of the screento be displayed. In other words, the setting items are displayed in aform of a list. It should be noted that, in the display screen shown inFIG. 4, hidden setting items are displayed by scrolling in a downwarddirection in the figure.

Here, in the display screen when the second tab 3B is selected, byscrolling in a single direction (the downward direction in the figure),other setting items are also displayed. This allows the user to easilyfind a setting item which he/she seeks. For example, it is alsoconsidered that the setting items are displayed in the forms of buttons,and are arranged in a lattice shape; however, in this case, the user isrequired to turn his/her eyes not only in the vertical direction, butalso in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, in the exemplary embodiment, since the setting itemsare displayed by scrolling in one direction (the vertical direction),the moving direction of user's eye becomes one direction. Accordingly,in the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to limit the movingdirection of user's eyes compared to the case where the user's eyes movein the two directions.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display screen when the selection button“box storage” on the home screen shown in FIG. 2 is selected by a user.When “box storage” on the home screen is selected by the user, the homescreen is switched to the display screen in which plural selectionbuttons 21 are displayed, each of which is assigned a user's name, asshown in FIG. 5. Similar to the display screen when the selection button21 for “copy” is selected by a user (refer to FIGS. 3 and 4), thedisplay screen has a configuration provided with two tabs (hereinafter,referred to as “first tab 5A” and “second tab 5B”). It should be notedthat FIG. 5 shows a state where the first tab 5A is selected.

Moreover, the exemplary embodiment is configured so that, when thedisplay screen is switched by user's selection of “box storage”, adisplay screen corresponding to the first tab 5A is displayed at first.In the exemplary embodiment, by user's selection of the second tab 5B ina state where the display screen corresponding to the first tab 5A isdisplayed, the display screen corresponding to the second tab 5B isdisplayed.

Here, the box storage refers to a process that stores image datagenerated by reading a document by use of the image reader 108 in a boxset in the memory 105 (refer to FIG. 1). At that time, by selecting anyone of the selection buttons 21 shown in FIG. 5 by the user, a storingdestination of the image data is designated, and the image data isstored in the designated storing destination.

It should be noted that, until selection of the storing destination iscarried out, each of the selection buttons 21 shown in FIG. 5 is in anunselected, namely, an off state (having a color substantially the sameas the color of “background”). Then, selection of the storingdestination is carried out, the selected selection button 21 becomes anon state, which is a selected state, and the color of the button ischanged to another color to make the user recognize the on state.Moreover, in the display screen shown in FIG. 5, in the lowermostportion of the screen, the setting items frequently changed by the user(“color mode”, “document feeding mode” and “reading resolution”) aredisplayed. These setting items are configured so that the contentsthereof are changed without switching the screen (without selecting thesecond tab 5B).

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing the display screens when the secondtab 5B is selected. As shown in FIG. 6A, in the case where the secondtab 5B is selected, other setting items capable of being set inperforming the box storage are displayed. It should be noted that, inthis case also, the setting items similar to those described above aredisplayed in a form of a list. Here, in the exemplary embodiment, it ispossible to assign a file name to every document read by the imagereader 108.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, when the setting item “file name”in FIG. 6A is selected, a display screen for inputting a file name isdisplayed as shown in FIG. 6B. In the exemplary embodiment, the userinputs a desirable file name via the display screen.

Next, personal print will be described. In the personal print, imagedata generated by a PC (personal computer) owned by a user istransmitted to the image forming apparatus 10 and is temporarily storedin the memory 105 (refer to FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 10.Then, the user inputs a starting instruction via the display part 107,to thereby start image formation onto a sheet or the like.

In the personal print, since image formation is carried out in a statewhere the user is in the immediate neighborhood of the image formingapparatus 10, the user is able to obtain printed matter immediatelyafter the printed matter is printed. In such a case, it rarely happensthat a person other than the user obtains the printed matter. When thepersonal print is carried out, the home screen shown in FIG. 2 isoperated, the selection button for “personal print” (not shown in FIG.2) is selected by the user. When the selection button for “personalprint” is selected, the home screen is switched to the display screenshown in FIG. 7 (a diagram showing a display screen after “personalprint” is selected).

Here, in the display screen after switching shown in FIG. 7, file namesof plural pieces of image data (print jobs) stored in the memory 105 aredisplayed in a form of a list. In other words, in the display part 107,file names are displayed in a state of being arranged in the verticaldirection. Moreover, at the left of the file name in the figure, apreview screen indicating a state of a printed sheet is displayed.

When one of the plural files shown in FIG. 7 is selected, the displayscreen is switched to a screen shown in FIG. 8 (a diagram showing adisplay screen after a file is selected). In the display screen, settingitems are displayed in a lower half of the screen. Specifically, in thisspecific example, three setting items, namely, “number of prints”,“color mode” and “whether duplex printing is needed” are displayed.

Further, at the top right of the display screen, a file name isdisplayed, and at the top left of the display screen, a preview screenindicating a state of a printed sheet is displayed. It should be notedthat, in the exemplary embodiment, each of the above-described threesetting items can be changed in the display screen shown in FIG. 8, andwhen the change is carried out, the preview screen is also changed inaccordance with the change. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, thepreview screen is dynamically changed in accordance with the change ofthe setting item.

Here, in the exemplary embodiment, the files are displayed in the formof a list in this manner, and the user selects the file to be printed.Then, the selected file is printed.

It should be noted that, though illustration is omitted, in theexemplary embodiment, a selection button 21 for “personal batch print”is prepared on the home screen. When this selection button 21 ispressed, batch printing of not-yet-outputted accumulated documents(files) is carried out. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, withregard to the personal print, two kinds of selection buttons 21, namely,“personal print (displayed in a list)” and “personal batch print” areprepared.

Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the exemplaryembodiment, other than the selection buttons 21 having already beenprepared, a user is able to create a new selection button 21 by thecontrol of the controller 100. For example, processes frequently carriedout by a user are able to be registered as new selection buttons 21 withparameters such as a transmission destination and a number of copiesbeing set. By selecting (pressing) those registered selection buttons 21by the user, the contents of the registered processes can be called, andthereby it becomes possible to omit operations of detailed setting ofparameters, which have been conducted every time the processes arecarried out.

The selection button 21 newly created and registered by the user in thismanner is hereinafter referred to as “one-touch selection button 21”. Inthe exemplary embodiment, as will be described later, a one-touchselection button 21 for direct start as an example of a second processreceiving portion and a one-touch selection button 21 for non-directstart as an example of a first process receiving portion can be createdas the one-touch selection button 21.

When a user only selects the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start, after an instruction for the process associated with thebutton is received by the controller 100, the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start starts the process without receiving furtherinstructions. In other words, in the one-touch selection button 21,selection operation by the user directly becomes an operation ofstarting a process without requesting the user to confirm the start ofthe process after the selection is once conducted by the user.

On the other hand, when a user selects the one-touch selection button 21for the non-direct start, after an instruction for the processassociated with the button is received by the controller 100 and beforethe start of the process, parameters or the like set in the one-touchselection button 21 are shown for the user. Then, after the userconfirms the shown parameters, further instructions are received byinputting an operation for starting the process, and thereafter, theprocess is started. The one-touch selection button 21 for the non-directstart is hereinafter also referred to as “one-touch selection button 21for displaying confirmation screen”.

In the screen for confirmation displayed by selection of the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying confirmation screen, it is possiblefor a user to select not only inputting a start of a process, but alsoinputting a cancellation of a process. If the inputting of acancellation is carried out, a process associated with the selectedon-touch selection button 21 is not executed.

Here, changes in the display screen when the one-touch selection button21 is created by a user will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to9C. It should be noted that FIGS. 9A to 9C show rough outlines of thechanges in the display screen.

At first, on the home screen, when a user selects the selection button21 for “mail” as a kind of the processes, a screen shown in FIG. 9A isdisplayed as a screen for receiving detailed settings of the “mail”process. Then, the gear-shaped mark (the mark indicated by the referencesign 9A) positioned at the top right of the screen is pressed by theuser.

When the gear-shaped mark 9A is pressed in the display screen in thestate of receiving the detailed settings, by the control of thecontroller 100, a screen for creating the one-touch selection button 21as shown in FIG. 9B is displayed. In the creation screen in FIG. 9B,information required to create the one-touch selection button 21 (suchas parameters) is inputted by the user. Specifically, as a name of theone-touch selection button 21, “name (first line)” and “name (secondline)” are inputted by the user.

The name of the one-touch selection button 21 in the exemplaryembodiment is represented by a name of two lines. “Name (first line)”shows a name displayed in an upper line of the two lines, whereas, “name(second line)” shows a name displayed in a lower line of the two lines.

Moreover, in the creation screen shown in FIG. 9B, a design to become anicon for displaying the one-touch selection button 21 is also displayed.The design can be changed by pressing a button 9B, with which a processof changing the design is associated, by the user. That is, when thebutton 9B is pressed by the user, a screen shown in FIG. 10 (a screenshowing a list of designs of the one-touch selection button 21) isdisplayed. The user select a design as the one-touch selection button 21from the list of the designs shown in the screen, and accordingly, theselected design for the one-touch selection button 21 is registered asan icon.

Further, in the creation screen shown in FIG. 9B, there is a slidebutton about the direct start to set whether the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start orthe one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmationscreen; however, this will be described later. It should be noted that,in the creation screen shown in FIG. 9B, the one-touch selection button21 is set not to carry out the direct start.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, a user is able to registerexplanations, and a user who wants to register explanations inputs theexplanations within a box positioned at a lower portion of the creationscreen shown in FIG. 9B.

When input by the user to the creation screen shown in FIG. 9B iscompleted, a button called “creation” positioned at top right of thescreen is pressed by the user. Consequently, by the control of thecontroller 100, a display on the display part 107 is switched to ascreen shown in FIG. 9C (the home screen), and a one-touch selectionbutton 21 named “one-touch mail transmission” is added to the displayscreen.

Here, the process of creating the one-touch selection button 21 for thenon-direct start has been described; however, in the exemplaryembodiment, a start button for starting a process after displaying aconfirmation screen by selecting the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the confirmation screen is not displayed on the displayscreen, but is arranged as a button of hardware (not shown) in any otherlocation of the image forming apparatus 10.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, there is a case where theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start can be created byoperating the slide button for the direct start; however, detailsthereof will be described later. The created one-touch selection button21 for the direct start is, when displayed on the home screen,distinguishable from selection buttons other than the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (the one-touch selection button21 for displaying the confirmation screen or ordinary selection buttons21).

That is to say, to the design of the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start displayed on the home screen, for example, arhombus-shaped mark 9E shown in FIG. 13, which will be described later,is added. The rhombus-shaped mark 9E simulates a mark attached to astart button of hardware provided to the image forming apparatus 10 (abutton to provide an instruction for starting processes correspondingrespective functions by being pressed by a user), and the one-touchselection button 21, to which the mark 9E is added, easily causes theuser to evoke pressing the start button, namely, start of a process bybeing selected. It should be noted that, in the exemplary embodiment,description has been given to the display process in the image formingapparatus 10; however, the display process is able to be executed in asimilar way in apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus 10(for example, an apparatus such as a tablet).

Subsequently, the process of creating the one-touch selection button 21will be described in more detail. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing aprocess executed by the controller 100 (refer to FIG. 1) when theone-touch selection button 21 is created. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing adisplay screen displayed on the display part 107 when the one-touchselection button 21 is created. In this specific example, descriptionwill be given by taking a case of creating a selection button 21 relatedto a fax transmission function as an example.

As shown in FIG. 11, when a selection button 21 is to be newly created,the controller 100 receives an input about a function (a process) to beassociated with the selection button 21 to be newly created from a user(step 101). Specifically, when the selection button 21 is newly created,the user selects (presses) a selection button 21 representing thefunction to be associated with the selection button 21 to be newlycreated on the home screen shown in the above-described FIG. 2. In thisspecific example, the user first selects a selection button for “fax” onthe home screen for the user shown in FIG. 2.

If the selection button 21 is pressed (selected) by the user on the homescreen, the screen for performing detailed settings about the functionassociated with the selected selection button 21, which is shown inFIGS. 3 to 6A and 6B, is displayed in the display part 107 by thecontroller 100. In the specific example, also in the case where theselection button 21 for “fax” is selected, the screen for performingdetailed settings about the fax function is similarly displayed in thedisplay part 107 by the controller 100.

In other words, though detailed description is omitted, the screen forperforming settings about the fax function also has a configurationprovided with a first tab and a second tab. In the configuration,setting items that are frequently changed by the user are displayed inthe first tab, whereas, all the setting items are displayed in a form ofa list in the second tab. The configuration of the first tab or thesecond tab is similar to the screen for performing settings about thecopy function shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or the screen for performingsettings about the box storage function shown in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B.

Then, the user performs settings of each item related to the functionassociated with the selection button 21 to be newly created by use ofthe screen displayed in the display part 107, and the controller 100receives those settings (step 102) and causes the memory 105 to storethe contents of the received settings (step 103). In the exemplaryembodiment, in which the fax function is selected, the user performsdetailed settings of, for example, “transmission destination”, “imagequality”, “magnification” and the like.

In the case where the copy function is selected as a kind of process,the user performs detailed settings of, for example,“duplex/simplex/bookbinding”, “number of copies”, “number of N-ups(number of pages aggregated in one page)”, “magnification”, “color mode”and the like. Moreover, in the case where the box storage function isselected, the user performs detailed settings of, for example, “colormode”, “document feeding mode”, “reading resolution” and the like.

It should be noted that, with respect to “transmission destination”,which is an item of the detailed settings, it is possible to set one ormore transmission destinations in creating a single one-touch selectionbutton 21; however, in this specific example, it is assumed that asingle transmission destination is set by the user.

Subsequently, the controller 100 determines whether or not a button forstarting creation of a one-touch selection button 21 (a button same asthe gear-shaped mark 9A shown in FIG. 9A, hereinafter referred to as acreation start button 9A) is selected by a user (step 104). It should benoted that, if the creation start button 9A is not selected (NO in step104), the controller 100 receives the detailed settings until thecreation start button 9A is selected (step 102), and stores informationof the received detailed settings in the memory 105 (step 103).

Next, in the case where the controller 100 determines that the creationstart button 9A is selected (YES in step 104), the controller 100 causesthe display part 107 to display a display screen for confirming andchanging the contents of settings of the one-touch selection button 21to be newly created (hereinafter referred to as a one-touch selectionbutton creation screen, or simply referred to as a creation screen)(step 106, step 112).

Specifically, the controller 100 causes the display part 107 to displaya creation screen corresponding to the function (including theinformation of detailed settings) associated with the one-touchselection button 21 to be newly created, which has been inputted by theuser in step 101. In this specific example, as shown in FIG. 12, thecontroller 100 causes the display part 107 to display a creation screencorresponding to the fax function selected in step 101.

As the creation screen displayed by the display part 107, there are twokinds, namely, a creation screen that provides permission to create theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, and a creationscreen that prohibits creation of the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start and provides permission to create only the one-touchselection button 21 for the non-direct start. In accordance with thekind of process selected in step 101 and the contents of detailedsettings received in step 102 and stored in the memory 105 in step 103,the controller 100 causes the display part 107 to display any one of thetwo kinds of creation screen (step 105, step 106 and step 112).

Specifically, when the contents of the process stored in the memory 105satisfy preset conditions (YES in step 105), the creation screen thatprovides permission to create the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start is displayed in the display part 107 (step 106). On theother hand, when the contents of the process stored in the memory 105 donot satisfy the preset conditions (NO in step 105), the creation screenthat prohibits creation of the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start and provides permission to create only the one-touchselection button 21 for the non-direct start is displayed in the displaypart 107 (step 112).

Here, in a case where the one-touch selection button 21 is for thedirect start, if the one-touch selection button 21 is erroneouslyselected and a process associated therewith is inadvertently executed, aserious effect due to the error is caused in some cases depending on thecontents of the process. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, whenthe one-touch selection button 21 is created, the controller 100switches between the creation of the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start and the creation of the one-touch selection button 21for the non-direct start in accordance with the contents of the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 to be created.

Specifically, conditions such as parameters, which correspond to thecontents of the process considered to have a serious effect ifinadvertently executed, are set in advance and integrated into a controlprogram, or stored in the memory 105 or the like. Then, when theone-touch selection button 21 is created, the controller 100 checks thecontents of the process associated with the one-touch selection button21 (the contents of detailed settings or the kind of process or the likereceived in step 102 and stored in step 103) against the above-describedpreset conditions (the conditions set in advance corresponding to thecontents of the process considered to have a serious effect).

As a result of the checking, in a case where the contents of the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 satisfy the presetconditions, the associated process is a process causing a serious effectby inadvertent execution. In this case, the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 should not be directly and inadvertentlystarted by selection of the one-touch selection button 21, andaccordingly, the confirmation screen is displayed prior to starting theprocess to require operation by the user for starting the process.Consequently, in this case, the controller 100 determines that theprocess cannot be directly executed without displaying the confirmationscreen (NO in step 105). Then, by the control of the controller 100, thecreation screen that prohibits creation of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start and provides permission to create onlythe one-touch selection button 21 for the non-direct start is displayedin the display part 107 (step 112).

On the other hand, in a case where the contents of the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 do not satisfy thepreset conditions, the associated process is not a process causing aserious effect by inadvertent execution. In this case, the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 may be directlystarted by selection of the one-touch selection button 21. Accordingly,in this case, the controller 100 determines that the process can beexecuted without confirmation (YES in step 105). Then, in the displaypart 107, the creation screen that provides permission to create theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is displayed by thecontrol of the controller 100 (step 106).

It should be noted that the preset conditions checked against thecontents of the process in step 105 are stipulated by at least one of,for example, the kind of process (“copy”, “box storage”, “ID card copy”,“access to medium”, “mail”, “print”, “PC storage” (or “box storage”),“fax” or the like), a parameter regarding the output of the process(whether or not an output destination is outside of a company, thenumber of recording sheets consumed by outputs, or the number ofoutputs) and an amount of resources used for processing except for theprocessing apparatus (a memory capacity consumed by box storage, a statewhere an automatic execution process, such as automatic transfer of datastored in the box, is set, a memory capacity used in accordance withreading resolution by an automatic execution scanner, or the like).

More specifically, for example, a kind of process “fax” is set as theabove-described conditions. Accordingly, in the case where the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 is “fax”, thecontroller 100 makes determination of NO in step 105, and displays thescreen for creating the one-touch selection button for the non-directstart (step 112). Similarly, for example, a case in which the kind ofprocess is “mail” and the transmission destination as the parameterregarding the output of the process is outside of the company is set asthe above-described conditions. Consequently, in the case where theprocess associated with the one-touch selection button 21 is “mail” andthe transmission destination is outside of the company, the controller100 makes determination of NO in step 105, and displays the screen forcreating the one-touch selection button for the non-direct start (step112).

Moreover, for example, a case in which the kind of process is “copy” andthe number of outputs as the parameter regarding the output of theprocess is “not less than 10” is also set as the above-describedconditions. Accordingly, in the case where the process associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 is “copy” and the number of outputs is“not less than 10”, the controller 100 makes determination of NO in step105, and displays the screen for creating the one-touch selection buttonfor the non-direct start (step 112).

Moreover, for example, a case in which the kind of process is “boxstorage” and the amount of resources used for processing is “a statewhere an automatic execution process, such as automatic transfer of datato others, is set in a box that stores the data” is also set as theabove-described conditions. Accordingly, in the case where the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 is “box storage” andthe amount of resources used for processing satisfies the presetconditions, the controller 100 makes determination of NO in step 105,and displays the screen for creating the one-touch selection button forthe non-direct start (step 112).

The conditions provided here are merely examples, and conditions are notlimited to those described above. That is, as long as conditionscorrespond to processes assumed to have serious effects when theone-touch selection button 21 is erroneously selected and thereby theprocesses associated therewith are inadvertently executed, those otherthan the above-described examples are able to be set as presetconditions.

The preset conditions may be fixed or changed. In the case of allowingthe conditions to be changed, for example, the setting may be carriedout according to instructions by a person having authority to controlthe image forming apparatus 10. In other words, the person having theauthority to control the image forming apparatus 10 carries outoperations on the image forming apparatus 10 permitted by the control,to thereby provide instructions to the controller 100 to rewrite theconditions. Upon receiving the instructions, the controller 100 readsthe conditions stored in the memory 105 and displays the read conditionson the display part 107.

The person having the authority of control carries out an operation torewrite the conditions displayed on the display part 107 on the displayscreen, and inputs an instruction to update to the rewritten conditionsonto the display part 107. In accordance with the instruction to updateinputted onto the display part 107, the controller 100 causes the memory105 to store the rewritten conditions inputted to the display part 107.Thereafter, the controller 100 uses the rewritten conditions in checkingin step 105.

In this manner, in the case where the one-touch selection button 21 tobe created is switched in accordance with contents of a process betweenthe one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start (step 106) andthe one-touch selection button 21 for the non-direct start (step 112),it is possible to set the conditions corresponding to the contents ofthe process according to instructions from a person having a presetauthority (for example, an administrator of a processing apparatus).

The creation screen that provides permission to create the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (step 106), which is displayedon the display part 107 by the control of the controller 100, is asshown in FIG. 12, for example.

Subsequently, the controller 100 receives changes in setting contentsregarding the one-touch selection button 21 to be newly created, whichhave been inputted by a user on the creation screen shown in FIG. 12(step 107). Though the setting contents regarding the one-touchselection button 21 will be described later, in the creation screen thatprovides permission to create the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start, as one of the setting contents regarding the one-touchselection button 21, there is provided a direct start button 34 to setdistinction of the one-touch selection button 21 between the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start and the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for displaying the confirmation screen.

The direct start button 34 in the creation screen that providespermission to create the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart (step 106) is capable of making selection operation between “YES”and “NO” regarding the direct start. That is, the direct start button 34is made active, and a user is able to select whether “YES” to make theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start or “NO” to not makethe one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start (to display theconfirmation screen) by sliding a knob on the direct start button 34 tothe right or left.

It should be noted that, the direct start button 34 controlled by thecontroller 100 so that, when the direct start button 34 is active,displayed in a color different from the color of “background” in thecreation screen in FIG. 12. In this manner, by displaying the directstart button 34 in the color different from the color of “background”,it is possible to make a user recognize that the direct start button 34is active at a glance.

Then, in the case where the user sets the direct start button 34 to“YES”, the controller 100 determines the user's instruction as thedirect start (YES in step 108) and decides to create “one-touchselection button 21 for direct start” (step 109). On the other hand, inthe case where the user sets the direct start button 34 to “NO”, thecontroller 100 determines the user's instruction as the non-direct start(NO in step 108) and decides to create “one-touch selection button 21for displaying confirmation screen” (step 114).

It should be noted that, in FIG. 12, since the knob on the direct startbutton 34 slides to the left, the display of “YES” appears and thedisplay of “NO” is hidden to be out of view; however, if the knob on thedirect start button 34 slides to the right, similar to FIG. 9B, thedisplay of “YES” is hidden to be out of view, whereas, the display of“NO” comes to the visible state. The display in the visible statebecomes the instruction selected by the user.

In a similar way, the creation screen for creating only the one-touchselection button 21 (step 112) displayed on the display part 107 by thecontrol of the controller 100 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 12. Thecontroller 100 receives the changes in the setting contents regardingthe one-touch selection button 21 to be newly created, which have beeninputted by the user in this creation screen (step 113). However, in thecreation screen for creating only the one-touch selection button 21(step 112), the above-described direct start button 34 is locked to “NO”regarding the direct start, and accordingly, it is impossible to receivethe selection operation by the user. In other words, the direct startbutton 34 is inactive to disable the selection by the user, and therebyit is decided that “one-touch selection button 21 for displayingconfirmation screen” is created (step 114).

It should be noted that, in the inactive state, the direct start button34 is controlled by the controller 100 to be displayed in a color sameas the “background” color of the creation screen in FIG. 12. Bydisplaying the direct start button 34 in the same color as the“background” color in this manner, it is possible to make a userrecognize that the direct start button 34 is inactive at a glance.

Next, the controller 100 determines whether or not a creation completionbutton 38 that is displayed in each creation screen for completingcreation of the one-touch selection button 21 has been selected by theuser (step 110). It should be noted that, in the case where the creationcompletion button 38 has not been selected (NO in step 110), thecontroller 100 waits until the creation completion button 38 isselected. If it is determined that the creation completion button 38 ispressed (YES in step 110), the controller 100 causes the memory 105 tostore the information and determination which are inputted and receivedin steps 101, 107, 109, 113 and 114 as information associated with theone-touch selection button 21 to be created (step 111).

With the above description, creation of the one-touch selection button21 by the controller 100 is completed.

It should be noted that, in step 110, in the case where the controller100 determines that the creation completion button 38 is pressed, thecontroller 100 switches the display screen on the display part 107 tothe home screen for the user. Then, the one-touch selection button 21created by the above-described steps is displayed on the home screen,for example, as shown in FIG. 13 by the control of the controller 100.

Subsequently, details of the creation screen of the one-touch selectionbutton will be described.

In the creation screen of the one-touch selection button, by the controlof the controller 100, buttons or boxes for allowing a user to inputinformation required by the user to create the one-touch selectionbutton 21 are displayed. The creation screen of the one-touch selectionbutton shown in FIG. 12 includes: a name box (a first line 31A and asecond line 31B); an icon change button 32 (corresponding to the button9B in FIG. 9B); a destination display selection button 33; and thedirect start button 34.

The name box 31 is a box where a name of the one-touch selection button21 to be created is inputted. The icon change button 32 is a button forchanging a design (icon) of the one-touch selection button 21 to becreated. The destination display selection button 33 is a button forselecting whether or not a destination is displayed in the icon of theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. The direct start button 34is a slide-type button for switching the one-touch selection button 21to be created by the user between the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start and the selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen.

Further, the creation screen of the one-touch selection button includes:a kind display part 35; an explanation box 36; a preview display part 37and the creation completion button 38.

The kind display part 35 is a part where a kind of a function of aprocess associated with the one-touch selection button 21 to be createdis displayed. The explanation box 36 is a box for inputting explanationsregarding the one-touch selection button 21 to be created. The previewdisplay part 37 displays a state of the one-touch selection button 21 tobe created when the button 21 is displayed on the home screen. Thecreation completion button 38 is a button for inputting instructions tocomplete creation of the one-touch selection button 21.

Here, as described above, the name box 31 is a box for inputting a nameto be displayed on the display screen (the home screen) together withthe icon of the one-touch selection button 21, and is divided into twolines, namely, the first line 31A and the second line 31B. In theexemplary embodiment, in a default state that is initially displayed onthe display part 107 when a user selects the creation start button 9A instep 102, a name related to the function inputted in step 101 is enteredin the name box 31 in advance by the control of the controller 100. Inthis specific example, corresponding to the fax function inputted instep 101, “one-touch” is inputted in the first line 31A, and “faxtransmission” is inputted in the second line 31B of the name box 31.

In the exemplary embodiment, a user is able to change the name inputtedin the name box 31. Specifically, when the user presses the name box 31(the first line 31A and the second line 31B), a keyboard screen (notshown) is displayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100. Theuser is able to input an arbitrary name to the name box 31 by use of thedisplayed keyboard.

The icon change button 32 is a button selected by a user when the iconof the one-touch selection button 21 to be created is changed. Moreover,on the left side in the figure of the icon change button 32, an iconthat is presently set is displayed. In the exemplary embodiment, in thedefault state initially displayed on the display part 107, a designpredetermined by the controller 100 is set, and is displayed on the leftside in the figure of the icon change button 32.

When the icon change button 32 is selected by the user, an iconselection screen in which plural designs are arranged (refer to FIG. 10)is displayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100. Then, byselecting a design from the icon selection screen, the user is able tochange the design of the one-touch selection button 21 to be created.FIG. 12 shows a state in which the icon is changed to the icon for fax.

The destination display selection button 33 is a slide-type buttonhaving a knob that is movable to the right or left, and the user is ableto select distinction between “YES” and “NO” by sliding the knob to theright or left. It should be noted that the destination display selectionbutton 33 is displayed in the case where, for example, the functionselected in step 101 includes a function of transferring data (facsimiletransmission or mail transmission) to the outside of the image formingapparatus 10 (refer to FIG. 1).

Though details will be described later, in the case where the userselect “YES” on the destination display selection button 33, informationregarding the destination of the function associated with the one-touchselection button 21 is displayed together with the icon of the one-touchselection button 21 displayed on the home screen by the control of thecontroller 100. It should be noted that, in the exemplary embodiment, inthe default state of the creation screen initially displayed on thedisplay part 107, the destination display selection button 33 is set as“YES”. Consequently, in the case where the user does not operate thedestination display selection button 33, the destination is displayedtogether with the icon of the selection button 21.

As a result, as long as the user does not carry out an operation ofchanging the destination display selection button 33 to the setting of“NO” in the creation screen of one-touch selection button, thedestination is set to be notified to the user. Accordingly, it ispossible to suppress occurrence of erroneous transmission, such astransmitting data to an unintended destination, compared to the casewhere the destination display selection button 33 is set as “NO” in thecreation screen in the default state. It should be noted that, in thespecific example shown in FIG. 12, the destination display selectionbutton 33 is selected as “YES”.

Similar to the destination display selection button 33, the direct startbutton 34 is configured with a slide-type button. In the creation screenof one-touch selection button displayed when creation of the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is permitted (step 106 in FIG.11), the direct start button 34 is set to be active. Accordingly, bysliding the knob on the button to the right or left, the user is able toselect “YES” or “NO” (to display the confirmation screen) for the directstart.

In the case where the user selects “YES” on the direct start button 34,the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is created, andthe icon of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startdisplayed on the home screen is provided with the rhombus-shaped mark 9E(refer to FIG. 13). On the other hand, in the case where the userselects “NO” on the direct start button 34, the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for displaying the confirmation screen is created. In thiscase, the icon displayed on the home screen is not provided with therhombus-shaped mark 9E.

In the case where the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen is selected on the home screen by the user, prior tostarting the process associated with the one-touch selection button 21for displaying the confirmation screen, a confirmation screen forconfirming the setting contents or the like of the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmationscreen is displayed on the display part 107. Then, upon receiving theprovision of the confirmation screen, when the user is consent to startthe process, the user presses the start button provided in the imageforming apparatus 10, to thereby start the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21.

On the other hand, if the user wants to cancel the process afterreceiving the provision of the confirmation screen, the user presses acancel button provided in the image forming apparatus 10, and therebythe process associated with the one-touch selection button 21 is notexecuted and the display part 107 returns to the home screen.

In the exemplary embodiment, in the creation screen of the one-touchselection button in the default state initially displayed in the displaypart 107 (refer to FIG. 12), the direct start button 34 is set as “NO”.Consequently, if the user does not carry out an operation of changingthe direct start button 34 to “YES”, the one-touch selection button 21to be created becomes “one-touch selection button 21 for displayingconfirmation screen”.

As a result, the setting is made so that, as long as the user does notcarry out an operation of changing the direct start button 34 to thesetting of “YES” in the creation screen, the one-touch selection button21 to be created does not become the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start. Consequently, it is possible to suppress unintentionalcreation of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start,compared to the case where the direct start button 34 is set as “YES” inthe default state. Then, it is possible to suppress unintentionalexecution of the process associated with the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start caused by erroneous selection of the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start by the user.

It should be noted that, in the specific example shown in FIG. 12, thedirect start button 34 is set as “YES” by the user's selection.

On the other hand, in the creation screen of the one-touch selectionbutton displayed when creation of only the one-touch selection button 21for displaying the confirmation screen is permitted (step 112 in FIG.11), the direct start button 34 is locked to “NO”, to be thereby set asinactive. Consequently, the user is not able to slide the knob on thebutton to the right or left, and thereby it is impossible to select“YES” on the direct start.

The kind display part 35 displays a kind of the function associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 to be created. The contents displayedin the kind display part 35 are set by the controller 100 in accordancewith the function selected in step 101, and are incapable of beingchanged by a user.

As described above, since it is possible for a user to change the iconor name of the one-touch selection button 21 to be created, there aresome cases in which the icon or name of the one-touch selection button21 is changed by a user to those irrelevant to the selected function. Inthis case, by watching icons or names irrelevant to the function inselecting the function, there is a possibility that a user has a falseperception regarding the function associated with the one-touchselection button 21.

Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment, the kind of the functionassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 is displayed in thekind display part 35 for suppressing occurrence of such inconveniences.In the specific example shown in FIG. 12, the characters “faxtransmission” corresponding to the fax function selected in step 101 and“(transmission destination: 1) corresponding to the number oftransmission destinations set in step 102 are displayed in the kinddisplay part 35 by the controller 100.

The explanation box 36 is a box for inputting explanations regarding theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. A user is able to inputarbitrary explanations to the explanation box 36. Specifically, when auser presses the explanation box 36, a keyboard screen (not shown) isdisplayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100.

The user is able to input explanations by use of the keyboard. Then, thecontroller 100 displays the explanations in the explanation box 36,input of which has been received via the keyboard. Moreover, in theexemplary embodiment, there are some cases in which explanations areautomatically inputted in the explanation box 36 to be displayed by thecontroller 100 corresponding to, for example, the function selected instep 101 or the item set in the step 102. In this specific example, aphone number set as a transmission destination of fax in step 101 isautomatically inputted and displayed in the explanation box 36 by thecontroller 100.

The preview display part 37 is a part displaying how the one-touchselection button 21 to be created is displayed on the home screen as apreview. Specifically, in the preview display part 37, a name inputtedto the name box 31 or inputted by default and an icon selected by theicon change button 32 or selected by default are displayed by thecontroller 100.

Moreover, in the case where “YES” is selected on the destination displayselection button 33, on each of the home screen shown in FIG. 13 and thepreview display part 37, information regarding the destination of theselected function (a destination display 9F) is displayed to overlap anupper portion of the icon. Further, in the case where “YES” is selectedon the direct start button 34, on each of the home screen shown in FIG.13 and the preview display part 37, the rhombus-shaped mark 9E isdisplayed to overlap the down right of the icon.

Here, in the case where the information set in the name box 31, the iconchange button 32, the destination display selection button 33 or thedirect start button 34 is changed, the controller 100 of the exemplaryembodiment reflects the changed contents in the preview displayed in thepreview display part 37 in real time. Accordingly, it becomes possiblefor a user who creates the selection button 21 to confirm presentsettings, and thereby, for example, setting of an unintended icon orname in the one-touch selection button 21 to be created can besuppressed.

As described above, the creation completion button 38 is a button forcompleting creation of the one-touch selection button 21. In the casewhere the creation completion button 38 is selected by a user (step 110in FIG. 11), the controller 100 causes the memory 105 to store theselected function or setting items (step 111 in FIG. 11).

According to the image forming apparatus 10 and the control program ofthe exemplary embodiment configured as described above, the controller100 switches between the one-touch selection button 21 for displayingconfirmation screen and the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart to be created. In the state of being displayed on the home screenin the display part 107, if the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying confirmation screen is selected by a user, the controller 100displays the confirmation screen that presents at least part of theitems set by the user on the screen for detailed settings in a stageprior to moving the creation screen of one-touch selection button or thecreation screen of one-touch selection button and stored in the memory105 on the display part 107. Then, after confirming the contentsdisplayed on the confirmation screen (though it is not required toconfirm in actuality), the user presses the star button, to therebyexecute the process associated with the one-touch selection button 21.

On the other hand, in the state of being displayed on the home screen inthe display part 107, if the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start is selected by a user, the controller 100 controls eachfunctional part to execute the process associated with the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start, to thereby execute theprocess. At this time, after selecting the one-touch selection button21, the user does not carry out any operation until the process isexecuted.

Consequently, according to the exemplary embodiment, compared to thecase where only one kind of operation can be selected when instructionsfor a process are received, it is possible to create the one-touchselection button from the two kinds for execution operation of a processaccording to user's intention. Moreover, convenience of the user isimproved by providing difference in operations required to the user whenthe one-touch selection button 21 is selected.

Accordingly, since the process of, for example, making only one or twocopies does not have a serious effect even though the process isexecuted in error, it is unnecessary to display the confirmation screento require a user to press the start button anew, and therefore, it ispossible to save the user the trouble of operating by causing a processto be executed only by selection by the user as the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start.

On the other hand, in the process of fax transmission, there are quite alot of cases where a serious effect is caused by execution in error; andaccordingly, the confirmation screen is displayed and the user isrequired to press the start button anew.

In this manner, according to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible tocreate the one-touch selection button 21 from the two kinds forexecution operation of a process according to user's intention comparedto the case where only one kind of operation can be selected wheninstructions for a process are received. Moreover, convenience of theuser is improved by providing difference in operations required to theuser when the one-touch selection button 21 is selected.

Moreover, according to the exemplary embodiment, compared to the casewhere creation of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startis permitted for all the processes, it is possible to suppress erroneousexecution for part of the processes. In this case, for example, sincethe one-touch selection button 21 is able to be switched between thatfor the direct start and that for displaying the confirmation screen inaccordance with the contents of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 (step 105 in FIG. 11), it is possible toprevent a process from being inadvertently executed by prohibitingcreation of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startregarding, for example, the process having a serious effect in erroneousexecution. Moreover, by permitting creation of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for displaying confirmation screen for the part of theprocesses, it is possible to execute the part of the processes with easecompared to the case where creation of the one-touch selection button 21for displaying confirmation screen is prohibited.

Further, according to the exemplary embodiment, in the case wherecreation of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start ispermitted because the contents of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 do not satisfy the conditions (step 106 inFIG. 11), the one-touch selection button 21 is created by carrying outswitching between the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startand the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying confirmation screenin accordance with selection instruction for the direct start button 34by a user (steps 108, 109 and 114 in FIG. 11).

Consequently, it is possible to some extent to create the one-touchselection button 21 by switching between the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start and the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying confirmation screen also by user's selection.

It should be noted that switching of whether the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start is created or the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for displaying confirmation screen is created may simply bedetermined in accordance with user's selection instruction only, not inaccordance with the contents of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. In this case, in theabove-described exemplary embodiment, the processes in steps 105, 112and 113 in FIG. 11 by the controller 100 may be omitted.

On the other hand, switching of whether the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start is created or the one-touch selection button 21for displaying confirmation screen is created may be determined inaccordance with only the contents of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. In this case, in theabove-described exemplary embodiment, the processes in step 108 in FIG.11 by the controller 100 may be omitted.

Moreover, according to the exemplary embodiment, it is possible toprovide the process having a serious effect when being inadvertentlyexecuted with the conditions stipulated by at least one of the parameterregarding the output of the process and the state of resources used inoutput of the process. Then, in the case where the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 to be created satisfies theconditions, it is possible to prevent increase of the effect caused byinadvertent execution since the one-touch button 21 for displayingconfirmation screen is created.

The exemplary embodiment is an example of creating a one-touch selectionbutton 21 in which the contents of the process related to the faxfunction are registered; however, in the case where the one-touchselection button 21 that registers contents of a process related to afunction other than the fax function is created, a configuration andprocesses are similar to those described in the exemplary embodiment.

By the way, in the exemplary embodiment, there are some cases in which,by changing of various settings of the image forming apparatus 10 in theexemplary embodiment after creation of the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start, execution of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 is affected.

Description will be given of a case in which, for example, a process ofbox storage (a box storage function) is associated with the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start. In the exemplary embodiment,in the case where the box storage function is associated with theone-touch selection button 21, it is possible to further associate thetransfer function, such as a fax or mail, as the items of detailedsettings with the one-touch selection button 21 (step 102 in FIG. 11) asan attribute of the box storage (hereinafter, referred to as a boxattribute).

Accordingly, in the case where the transfer function as the boxattribute is associated with the one-touch selection button 21, withwhich the box storage function has been associated, by selecting theone-touch selection button 21 to store data in the associated box, thedata stored in the box is automatically transferred to the outside ofthe image forming apparatus 10 by the transfer function, such as the faxor mail, associated with the one-touch selection button 21.

Consequently, when the one-touch selection button 21, with which the boxstorage function is associated, is to be created, the controller 100switches the one-touch selection button 21 to be created between theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start and the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen according towhether or not the transfer function, such as the fax or mail, isincluded in the contents of the associated process.

Specifically, in step 105 in FIG. 11, if there is the transfer function,such as the fax or mail, as the items of detailed settings associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 to be created (steps 102 and103), for preventing inadvertent execution due to erroneous selection,the controller 100 determines that the process is incapable of beingexecuted without confirmation (NO in step 105), and displays thecreation screen of the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen (step 112).

On the other hand, in step 105, if there is no transfer function, suchas the fax or mail, as the items of detailed settings associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 to be created (steps 102 and 103),since an effect caused by inadvertent execution due to erroneousselection is not so serious, the controller 100 determines that theprocess is capable of being executed without confirmation (YES in step105), and displays the creation screen that permits creation of theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start (step 106). In thiscase, if a user operates the direct start button 34 in the creationscreen for the one-touch selection button and selects “YES” regardingthe direct start (step 108 to step 109), the controller 100 creates theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start.

Incidentally, in the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to directlyassociate the box attribute with each box in which the data is stored bythe box storage function. Accordingly, the box attribute of the transferfunction, such as the fax or mail, can be directly assigned to the boxthat becomes an object of the box storage function associated with theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start having already beencreated.

Consequently, if the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start,with which the box storage function having a box provided with the boxattribute of the transfer function, such as the fax or mail, later inthis manner as an object, is inadvertently executed by erroneousselection, the data is stored in the object box in accordance with thecontents of the associated process; however, the data stored in the boxis automatically transferred to the outside of the image formingapparatus 10 by the box attribute assigned later.

In the exemplary embodiment, when the created one-touch selection button21 for the direct start is selected, prior to starting the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21, the controller 100confirms whether or not any change is added to the setting itemsstipulating the contents of the process and in accordance with thecontents of the change, controls not to execute the direct start.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, when the created one-touch selectionbutton 21 is selected, the controller 100 determines whether or not theselected one-touch selection button 21 is “one-touch selection buttonfor displaying confirmation screen” (step 201). When the selectedone-touch selection button 21 is determined as “one-touch selectionbutton for displaying confirmation screen” (YES in step 201), thecontroller 100 controls the display part 107 to display the confirmationscreen (step 205), and after the start button is pressed by a user, thecontroller 100 controls so that the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 is executed (step 204).

On the other hand, when the selected one-touch selection button 21 isnot determined as “one-touch selection button for displayingconfirmation screen” (in other words, determined as the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start) (NO in step 201), thecontroller 100 determines whether or not any change is added to thesetting items stipulating the contents of the process associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 (step 202). When it is determined thatany change is not added (NO in step 202), the controller 100 controls toexecute the process associated with the one-touch selection button 21(step 204).

Moreover, when it is determined that some change is added to the settingitems stipulating the contents of the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 (YES in step 202), the controller 100determined whether or not the process can be executed withoutconfirmation due to the change (step 203). The “determination whether ornot the process can be executed without confirmation” is the sameprocess as the determination by the controller 100 whether or not thecontents of the process stored in the memory 105 satisfy the presetconditions (step 105 in FIG. 11) when the one-touch selection button 21is to be created.

When it is determined that the process associated with the one-touchselection button 21 can be executed without confirmation irrespective ofthe change (YES in step 203), the controller 100 controls to execute theprocess associated with the one-touch selection button 21 (step 204).For example, in the case of the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start, with which the process of the box storage is associated,if change to increase the capacity of the box capable of storing, whichis an object of the box storage process, is added after creation of theone-touch selection button 21, the change does not become a conditionthat interferes with execution of the process without confirmation.Accordingly, in the case of this specific example, the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startis executed without displaying the confirmation screen, or withoutwaiting for a pressing operation of the start button by a user (step204).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 cannot be executed withoutconfirmation due to the change (NO in step 203), the controller 100controls so that the confirmation screen is displayed on the displaypart 107 despite that the one-touch selection button 21 is for thedirect start (step 205), and also controls so that the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 is executed after thestart button is pressed by the user (step 204). For example, in the caseof the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, with whichthe process of the box storage is associated, if change to reduce thecapacity of the box capable of storing, which is an object of the boxstorage process, or change to provide the transfer function, such as thefax or mail, that has not been added at the time of creation of thebutton as described above, is added after creation of the one-touchselection button 21, the change becomes a condition that interferes withexecution of the process without confirmation. Accordingly, in the caseof this specific example, the process associated with the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is not directly executed, butthe confirmation screen is displayed (step 205) and the pressingoperation of the start button by the user is carried out, andthereafter, the process is executed (step 204).

In this manner, according to the exemplary embodiment, even though theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is created, at thetime of executing a process associated with the one-touch button 21 forthe direct start, if the process is changed to cause a serious effect inthe case of being erroneously executed, it is possible to prevent theprocess from being inadvertently executed.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a second exemplary embodiment will be described by using FIG. 15.

Though similar description has been given in FIGS. 9A to 9C, in FIGS.15A to 15C, in the screen for confirmation displayed by selection of theone-touch selection button 21 for displaying confirmation screen, it ispossible for a user to select not only inputting a start of a process,but also inputting a cancellation of a process. If the inputting of acancellation is carried out, a process associated with the selectedon-touch selection button 21 is not executed. It should be noted that,in the exemplary embodiment, other selection buttons 21 including theone-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen,except for the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, areexamples of the first process receiving portion.

When a user creates the one-touch selection button 21, in FIG. 15A(here, FIGS. 15A to 15C are diagrams showing display screens in creationof the one-touch selection button 21 by a user), a gear-shaped mark (amark indicated by the reference sign 9A) positioned at the top right ofthe figure is pressed by the user. It should be noted that the displayscreen shown in FIG. 15A is a screen when a mail is transmitted. Inother words, FIG. 15A shows a state after the selection button 21 for“mail” shown in FIG. 2 is selected by a user and the display screen isswitched.

When the gear-shaped mark 9A is pressed by the user, the display screenshown in FIG. 15B is displayed. In this display screen, informationrequired to create the one-touch selection button 21 (parameters or thelike) is inputted by the user. Specifically, as a name of the one-touchselection button 21, “name (the first line)” and “name (the secondline)” are inputted by the user.

The name of the one-touch selection button 21 (the created one-touchselection button 21) in the exemplary embodiment is represented by aname of two lines. “Name (first line)” shows a name displayed in anupper line of the two lines, whereas, “name (second line)” shows a namedisplayed in a lower line of the two lines.

Further, in the display screen shown in FIG. 15B, a design to become anicon for displaying the one-touch selection button 21 is also displayed.The design can be changed by pressing a button 9B, with which a processof changing the design is associated, by the user. That is, when thebutton 9B is pressed by the user, a screen shown in FIG. 10 (a screenshowing a list of designs of the one-touch selection button 21) isdisplayed. The user select a design as the one-touch selection button 21from the list of the designs shown in the screen, and accordingly, theselected design for the one-touch selection button 21 is registered asan icon.

Further, in the display screen shown in FIG. 15B, there is a slidebutton about the direct start to set whether the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start orthe one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmationscreen; however, this will be described later. It should be noted that,the display screen shown in FIG. 15B is set to create the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, a user is able to registerexplanations, and a user who wants to register explanations inputs theexplanations within a box positioned at a lower portion of the displayscreen (the display screen shown in FIG. 15B).

Here, when input by the user to the display screen shown in FIG. 15B iscompleted, a button called “creation” positioned at top right of thefigure is pressed by the user. Consequently, by the control of thecontroller 100, a display is switched to a display screen shown in FIG.15C, and a one-touch selection button 21 named “one-touch mailtransmission” is added to the display screen (the home screen). Here,the process of creating the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart has been described; however, in the exemplary embodiment, aone-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen canalso be created by operation of a slide button of the direct start bythe user.

After the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmationscreen receives instructions on a process by being selected by the user,the confirmation screen for receiving further instructions is displayed,and then, after waiting for inputting (providing instruction) of a startbutton by the user, a process associated with the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is executed. In the exemplary embodiment, a start button forstarting a process after displaying a confirmation screen by selectingthe one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screenis not displayed on the display screen, but is arranged as a button ofhardware (not shown) in any other location of the image formingapparatus 10.

Moreover, the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is,when displayed on the home screen, distinguishable from selectionbuttons other than the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart (the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmationscreen or ordinary selection buttons 21). That is to say, to the designof the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start displayed onthe home screen, for example, a rhombus-shaped mark 9E shown in FIG. 15Cis added. It should be noted that, in the exemplary embodiment,description has been given to the display process in the image formingapparatus 10; however, the display process is able to be executed in asimilar way in apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus 10(for example, an apparatus such as a tablet).

Subsequently, the process of creating the one-touch selection button 21will be described in more detail. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing aprocess executed by the controller 100 (refer to FIG. 1) when theone-touch selection button 21 is created. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing adisplay screen displayed on the display part 107 when the one-touchselection button 21 is created. In this specific example, descriptionwill be given by taking a case of creating a selection button 21 relatedto a fax transmission function as an example.

As shown in FIG. 16, when a selection button 21 is to be newly created,the controller 100 receives an input about a function (a process) to beassociated with the selection button 21 to be newly created from a user(step 101-2). Specifically, when the selection button 21 is newlycreated, the user selects (presses) a selection button 21 representingthe function to be associated with the selection button 21 to be newlycreated on the home screen shown in the above-described FIG. 2. In thisspecific example, the user first selects a selection button for “fax” onthe home screen for the user shown in FIG. 2.

If the selection button 21 is pressed by the user on the home screen,the screen for performing settings by the user about the functionassociated with the selected selection button 21, which is shown inFIGS. 3 to 6A and 6B, is displayed in the display part 107 by thecontroller 100. In the specific example, also in the case where theselection button 21 for “fax” is selected, the screen for performingsettings about the fax function is similarly displayed in the displaypart 107 by the controller 100.

In other words, though detailed description is omitted, the screen forperforming settings about the fax function also has a configurationprovided with a first tab and a second tab. In the configuration,setting items that are frequently changed by the user are displayed inthe first tab, whereas, all the setting items are displayed in a form ofa list in the second tab. The configuration of the first tab or thesecond tab is similar to the screen for performing settings about thecopy function shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or the screen for performingsettings about the box storage function shown in FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B.

Then, the user performs settings of each item related to the functionassociated with the selection button 21 to be newly created by use ofthe screen displayed in the display part 107. In the case where the copyfunction is selected by the user, the user performs settings of, forexample, “duplex/simplex/bookbinding”, “number of copies”, “number ofN-ups (number of pages aggregated in one page)”, “magnification”, “colormode” and the like. Moreover, in the case where the user selects the boxstorage function, the user performs settings of “color mode”, “documentfeeding mode”, “reading resolution” and the like. Further, in the casewhere the user selects the fax function, the user performs settings of“transmission destination”, “image quality”, “magnification” and thelike.

It should be noted that, with respect to “transmission destination”, itis possible to set one or more transmission destinations in creating asingle selection button 21; however, in this specific example, it isassumed that a single transmission destination is set by the user.

Subsequently, the controller 100 determines whether or not a button forstarting creation of a one-touch selection button 21 (a button same asthe gear-shaped mark 9A shown in FIG. 15A, hereinafter referred to as acreation start button 9A) is selected by a user (step 102-2). It shouldbe noted that, if the creation start button 9A is not selected (NO instep 102-2), the controller 100 waits until the creation start button 9Ais selected.

Next, in the case where the controller 100 determines that the creationstart button 9A is selected (YES in step 102-2), the controller 100causes the display part 107 to display a display screen for confirmingand changing the contents of settings of the one-touch selection button21 to be newly created (hereinafter referred to as a one-touch selectionbutton creation screen, or simply referred to as a creation screen)(step 103-2). Specifically, the controller 100 causes the display part107 to display a creation screen corresponding to the function orsetting items associated with the one-touch selection button 21 to benewly created, which have been inputted by the user in step 101-2. Inthis specific example, as shown in FIG. 12, the controller 100 causesthe display part 107 to display a creation screen corresponding to thefax function selected in step 101-2.

Subsequently, on the creation screen, the controller 100 receives inputof changes in the contents of settings regarding the one-touch selectionbutton 21 to be newly created (step 104-2). It should be noted thatdetails of the creation screen displayed on the display part 107 in step103-2 or processes in the case where the input of changes in thecontents of settings is received via the creation screen in step 104-2will be described in detail later.

Next, the controller 100 determines whether or not a creation completionbutton 38 that is displayed in the creation screen for completingcreation of the one-touch selection button 21 has been selected by theuser (step 105-2). It should be noted that, in the case where thecreation completion button 38 has not been selected (NO in step 105-2),the controller 100 waits until the creation completion button 38 isselected.

In the case where the controller 100 determines that the creationcompletion button 38 is pressed (YES in step 105-2), the controller 100causes the memory 105 to store the information input of which has beenreceived in step 101-2 or step 104-2 as information related to theselection button 21 to be created (step 106-2). With the abovedescription, creation of the one-touch selection button 21 is completed.It should be noted that, in step 105-2, in the case where it isdetermined that the creation completion button 38 is pressed, thecontroller 100 switches the display screen on the display part 107 tothe home screen for the user. Then, the one-touch selection button 21created by the above-described steps is arranged on the home screen, forexample, as shown in FIG. 18 by the control of the controller 100. Itshould be noted that the process of arranging the one-touch selectionbutton 21 on the display region of the home screen will be described indetail later.

Subsequently, details of the creation screen of the one-touch selectionbutton will be described.

In the creation screen of the one-touch selection button, by the controlof the controller 100, buttons or boxes for allowing a user to inputinformation required by the user to create the one-touch selectionbutton 21 are displayed. The creation screen of the one-touch selectionbutton shown in FIG. 12 includes: a name box (a first line 31A and asecond line 31B); an icon change button 32 (corresponding to the button9B in FIG. 15B); a destination display selection button 33; and thedirect start button 34.

The name box 31 is a box where a name of the one-touch selection button21 to be created is inputted. The icon change button 32 is a button forchanging a design (icon) of the one-touch selection button 21 to becreated. The destination display selection button 33 is a button forselecting whether or not a destination is displayed in the icon of theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. The direct start button 34is a button for selecting the one-touch selection button 21 to becreated from the distinction between the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start and the selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen.

Further, the creation screen of the one-touch selection button includes:a kind display part 35; an explanation box 36; a preview display part 37and the creation completion button 38.

The kind display part 35 is a part where a kind of a function of aprocess associated with the one-touch selection button 21 to be createdis displayed. The explanation box 36 is a box for inputting explanationsregarding the one-touch selection button 21 to be created. The previewdisplay part 37 displays a state of the one-touch selection button 21 tobe created when the button 21 is displayed on the home screen. Thecreation completion button 38 is a button for inputting instructions tocomplete creation of the one-touch selection button 21.

Here, as described above, the name box 31 is a box for inputting a nameto be displayed on the display screen (the home screen) together withthe icon of the one-touch selection button 21, and is divided into twolines, namely, the first line 31A and the second line 31B. In theexemplary embodiment, in a default state that is initially displayed onthe display part 107 when a user selects the creation start button 9A instep 102-2, a name related to the function inputted in step 101-2 isentered in the name box 31 in advance by the control of the controller100. In this specific example, corresponding to the fax functioninputted in step 101-2, “one-touch” is inputted in the first line 31A,and “fax transmission” is inputted in the second line 31B of the namebox 31.

In the exemplary embodiment, a user is able to change the name inputtedin the name box 31. Specifically, when the user presses the name box 31(the first line 31A and the second line 31B), a keyboard screen (notshown) is displayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100. Theuser is able to input an arbitrary name to the name box 31 by use of thedisplayed keyboard.

The icon change button 32 is a button selected by a user when the iconof the one-touch selection button 21 to be created is changed. Moreover,on the left side in the figure of the icon change button 32, an iconthat is presently set is displayed. In the exemplary embodiment, in thedefault state initially displayed on the display part 107, a designpredetermined by the controller 100 is set, and is displayed on the leftside in the figure of the icon change button 32.

When the icon change button 32 is selected by the user, an iconselection screen in which plural designs are arranged (refer to FIG. 10)is displayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100. Then, byselecting a design from the icon selection screen, the user is able tochange the design of the one-touch selection button 21 to be created.FIG. 12 shows a state in which the icon is changed to the icon for fax.

The destination display selection button 33 is a slide-type buttonhaving a knob that is movable to the right or left, and the user is ableto select distinction between “YES” and “NO” by sliding the knob to theright or left. It should be noted that the destination display selectionbutton 33 is displayed in the case where, for example, the functionselected in step 101-2 includes a function of transferring data (faxtransmission or mail transmission) to the outside of the image formingapparatus 10 (refer to FIG. 1).

Though details will be described later, in the case where the userselect “YES” on the destination display selection button 33, informationregarding the destination of the function associated with the one-touchselection button 21 is displayed together with the icon of the one-touchselection button 21 displayed on the home screen by the control of thecontroller 100. It should be noted that, in the exemplary embodiment, inthe default state of the creation screen initially displayed on thedisplay part 107, the destination display selection button 33 is set as“YES”. Consequently, in the case where the user does not operate thedestination display selection button 33, the destination is displayedtogether with the icon of the selection button 21.

As a result, as long as the user does not carry out an operation ofchanging the destination display selection button 33 to the setting of“NO” in the creation screen of one-touch selection button, thedestination is set to be notified to the user. Accordingly, it ispossible to suppress occurrence of erroneous transmission, such astransmitting data to an unintended destination, compared to the casewhere the destination display selection button 33 is set as “NO” in thecreation screen in the default state. It should be noted that, in thespecific example shown in FIG. 12, the destination display selectionbutton 33 selects “NO”.

Similar to the destination display selection button 33, the direct startbutton 34 is configured with a slide-type button. By sliding the knob onthe button to the right or left, the user is able to select “YES” or“NO” (to display the confirmation screen) for the direct start. Here, inthe case where “YES” is selected on the direct start button 34, theone-touch selection button 21 to be created becomes “one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start” that starts a process by merely a singleselection of the one-touch selection button 21.

In this case, as described above, the icon of the selection button 21displayed on the home screen is provided with the rhombus-shaped mark 9E(refer to FIGS. 15C and 18). On the other hand, in the case where theuser selects “NO” on the direct start button 34, the one-touch selectionbutton 21 to be created becomes “one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the confirmation screen”. In this case, the icon of theselection button 21 displayed on the home screen is not provided withthe rhombus-shaped mark 9E. It should be noted that, different from theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, the selection button21 for displaying the confirmation screen is a one-touch selectionbutton 21 that does not start a process by merely a single inputtingoperation (selection operation).

In other words, in the case where the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the confirmation screen is selected on the home screen by theuser, prior to starting the process associated with the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen, aconfirmation screen for confirming the setting contents or the like ofthe process associated with the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the confirmation screen is displayed on the display part 107.Then, upon receiving the provision of the confirmation screen, when theuser is consent to start the process, the user presses the start buttonprovided in the image forming apparatus 10, to thereby start the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21.

On the other hand, if the user wants to cancel the process afterreceiving the provision of the confirmation screen, the user presses acancel button provided in the image forming apparatus 10, and therebythe process associated with the one-touch selection button 21 is notexecuted and the display part 107 returns to the home screen.

In the exemplary embodiment, in the creation screen displayed in thedisplay part 107 (FIG. 12), although the direct start button 34 is setto “YES” by the user's selection, the direct start button 34 is set to“NO” in the default setting. Consequently, if the user does not carryout an operation of changing the direct start button 34 to “YES”, theone-touch selection button 21 to be created becomes “one-touch selectionbutton 21 for displaying confirmation screen”.

As a result, the setting is made so that, as long as the user does notcarry out an operation of changing the direct start button 34 to thesetting of “YES” in the creation screen, the one-touch selection button21 to be created does not become the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start. Consequently, it is possible to suppress unintentionalcreation of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start,compared to the case where the direct start button 34 is set as “YES” inthe default state. Then, it is possible to suppress unintentionalexecution of the process associated with the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start caused by erroneous selection of the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start by the user.

The kind display part 35 displays a kind of the function associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 to be created. The contents displayedin the kind display part 35 are set by the controller 100 in accordancewith the function selected in step 101-2, and are incapable of beingchanged by a user.

As described above, since it is possible for a user to change the iconor name of the one-touch selection button 21 to be created, there aresome cases in which the icon or name of the one-touch selection button21 is changed by a user to those irrelevant to the selected function. Inthis case, by watching icons or names irrelevant to the function inselecting the function, there is a possibility that a user has a falseperception regarding the function associated with the one-touchselection button 21. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment, the kindof the function associated with the one-touch selection button 21 isdisplayed in the kind display part 35 for suppressing occurrence of suchinconveniences.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 12, the characters “faxtransmission” corresponding to the fax function selected in step 101-2and “(transmission destination: 1) corresponding to the number oftransmission destinations set in step 104-2 are displayed in the kinddisplay part 35 by the controller 100.

The explanation box 36 is a box for inputting explanations regarding theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. A user is able to inputarbitrary explanations to the explanation box 36. Specifically, when auser presses the explanation box 36, a keyboard screen (not shown) isdisplayed on the display part 107 by the controller 100.

The user is able to input arbitrary explanations by use of the keyboard.Then, the controller 100 displays the explanations in the explanationbox 36, input of which has been received via the keyboard. Moreover, inthe exemplary embodiment, there are some cases in which explanations areautomatically inputted in the explanation box 36 to be displayed by thecontroller 100 corresponding to, for example, the function selected instep 101-2 or the item set in the step 104-2.

In this specific example, a phone number set as a transmissiondestination of fax in step 101-2 is automatically inputted and displayedin the explanation box 36 by the controller 100.

The preview display part 37 is a part displaying how the one-touchselection button 21 to be created is displayed on the home screen as apreview. Specifically, in the preview display part 37, a name inputtedto the name box 31 or inputted by default and an icon selected by theicon change button 32 or selected by default are displayed by thecontroller 100.

Moreover, in the case where “YES” is selected on the destination displayselection button 33 by the user, on each of the home screen shown inFIG. 18 and the preview display part 37, information regarding thedestination of the selected function (a destination display 9F) isdisplayed to overlap an upper portion of the icon. Further, in the casewhere “YES” is selected on the direct start button 34 by the user, oneach of the home screen shown in FIG. 18 and the preview display part37, the rhombus-shaped mark 9E is displayed to overlap the down right ofthe icon.

Here, in the case where the information set in the name box 31, the iconchange button 32, the destination display selection button 33 or thedirect start button 34 is changed, the controller 100 of the exemplaryembodiment reflects the changed contents in the preview displayed in thepreview display part 37 in real time. Accordingly, it becomes possiblefor a user who creates the selection button 21 to confirm presentsettings, and thereby, for example, setting of an unintended icon orname in the one-touch selection button 21 to be created can besuppressed.

As described above, the creation completion button 38 is a button forcompleting creation of the one-touch selection button 21. In the casewhere the creation completion button 38 is selected by a user, thecontroller 100 causes the memory 105 (refer to FIG. 1) to store theselected function or setting items. Specifically, in the case where thecreation completion button 38 is selected, the controller 100 causes thememory 105 to store the function selected in step 101-2 and the contentsof the setting items (such as fax transmission destinations or thenumber of transmissions) set with respect to the function, theinformation required to create the one-touch selection button 21 havingbeen set or changed in step 104-2 (such as a name, icon andexplanations) and the like that are associated with the one-touchselection button 21 to be created.

It should be noted that information identifying the user who creates theone-touch selection button 21 is also associated with the createdone-touch selection button 21 and stored in the memory 105.

The image forming apparatus 10 in the exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 1) stores, for example, the creation screen of the one-touchselection button 21 for each function selected in step 101-2 in thememory 105. In the case where the creation start button 9A is selectedin step 102-2, the controller 100 reads the creation screencorresponding to the function selected in step 101-2 and causes thedisplay part 107 to display the creation screen.

Moreover, FIG. 12 is an example of the creation screen in the case wherethe fax function is selected as the process associated with theone-touch selection button 21 to be created. The creation screen in thecase where a function other than the fax function is selected as theprocess associated with the one-touch selection button 21 to be createdalso has a configuration basically similar to the creation screen shownin FIG. 12. That is, similar to the specific example shown in FIG. 12,the creation screen of a function other than the fax function alsoincludes: the name box 31; the icon change button 32; the direct startbutton 34; the kind display part 35; the explanation box 36; the previewdisplay part 37; and the creation completion button 38.

In contrast thereto, the destination display selection button 33 isdisplayed only on the creation screen of the function for transferringthe data to the outside of the image forming apparatus 10 (refer to FIG.1), such as the fax function or the mail transmission function, and isnot displayed on the creation screen of the function including notransfer function, such as the copying function.

Incidentally, as described above, the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start created by the user starts the function (the process)associated with the one-touch selection button 21 by merely a singleselection operation by the user. In other words, in the case where theone-touch selection button 21 is selected by the user on the homescreen, a process is started without displaying an input screen forinputting setting items, such as a transmission destination of fax or anumber of copies, or a confirmation screen for confirming these settingitems.

This allows the user to perform the process without selecting thefunction or inputting the setting items, and thereby provides an effectto save some operations. However, on the other hand, in the case wherethe user erroneously selects the one-touch selection button 21 by, forexample, unintentionally touching the one-touch selection button 21 onthe home screen, the process associated with the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is unnecessarily executed. As a result, for example, in a casewhere a user erroneously selects the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start with which the function of transferring data to theoutside of the image forming apparatus 10, such as the fax transmissionfunction or the mail transmission function, is associated, there is apossibility that the data is inadvertently transferred to an address notintended by the user.

Moreover, in a case where a user erroneously selects the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start with which a copying functionwith a large number of copies that involves large consumption ofrecording materials (sheets) or a scanning function with high resolutionthat involves large consumption of memory is associated, a large amountof recording materials or memory is inadvertently consumed.

On the other hand, in the case where the one-touch selection button 21created by a user is the selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen, a process is not started by only a single selectionoperation by the user. In other words, in the case where the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen is selectedby the user on the home screen, first, the confirmation screen regardingthe function associated with the selected one-touch selection button 21is displayed. Then, the user confirms the contents on the confirmationscreen, expresses consent to start the process and presses the startbutton, to thereby start the process of the function associated with theone-touch selection button 21. Accordingly, there are feweropportunities in which problems as in the case of the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start occur.

Here, in the image forming apparatus 10 of the exemplary embodiment,when the created one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isdisplayed on the home screen, arrangement of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start in a predetermined region, where theone-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen isable to be arranged, is prohibited by the control of the controller 100.Here, the predetermined region, where the one-touch selection button 21for displaying the confirmation screen is able to be arranged, is set ona top left side relative to a center of a display region, for example.In other words, in the exemplary embodiment, arrangement of theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in the region on thetop left side is prohibited in the display region on the home screen. Itshould be noted that the region on the top left side includes a regionon a left side just beside if being at vertically the same position, andalso includes a straight above region if being at laterally the sameposition.

In the case of arranging a newly created one-touch selection button 21for displaying the confirmation screen in the display region on the homescreen, the controller 100 in the exemplary embodiment arranges theone-touch selection button 21 in the region on the top left side of thedisplay region on the home screen, and in the case where the top leftside region has already been occupied by other selection buttons 21, theone-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen isarranged to the right of those selection buttons 21 in turn. Moreover,in the case where there is no space to arrange to the right, if there isa space on a lower stage, the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the confirmation screen is arranged on the lower stage in aleft-aligned manner, and if there is no space on the lower stage, thecontroller 100 controls to move to the next page of the home screen, tothereby arrange the one-touch selection button 21 for displaying theconfirmation screen in turn from an upper stage in the left-alignedmanner in the display region on the next page.

On the other hand, in the case where the one-touch selection button 21to be arranged in the display region on the home screen is the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start, the one-touch selection button21 is not simply arranged in turn in a vacant space of the displayregion in the left-aligned manner as described above, but arranged inthe region except for the predetermined region where the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen is able to bearranged (for example, the region on the top left side relative to thecenter portion).

In this process performed by the controller 100, as shown in FIG. 17,after the creation of the one-touch selection button 21 is completed andstored in the memory 105 (step 201-2), to arrange the one-touchselection button 21 in the display region on the home screen on thedisplay part 107, the controller 100 determines whether or not theone-touch selection button 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start (step 202-2). This determination is carried out inaccordance with the settings of the direct start button 34 selected increating the one-touch selection button 21. Specifically, in the casewhere the direct start button 34 is set to “YES”, the controller 100determines that the one-touch selection button 21 is the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (YES in step 202-2).

On the other hand, in the case where the direct start button 34 is setto “NO”, the controller 100 determines that the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is not the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start(NO in step 202-2). When it is determined that the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, inarranging the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in thedisplay region on the home screen, the controller 100 arranges theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in a region exceptfor the top left side region, where the selection buttons 21 other thanthe one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start (the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen) are able tobe arranged (step 204-2). FIG. 15C is an example of arranging theone-touch selection button 21 on the home screen in this manner.

In the case where it is determined that the one-touch selection button21 is not the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, inarranging the one-touch selection button 21 in the display region on thehome screen, the controller 100 arranges in turn the one-touch selectionbutton 21 to the right of the selection button 21 that has already beendisplayed, and if there is no space to arrange to the right and there issome space to arrange in the lower stage, the controller 100 arrangesthe one-touch selection button 21 in the lower stage in the left-alignedmanner, and further, if there is also no space to arrange in the lowerstage, the controller 100 controls to move to the next page of the homescreen, to thereby arrange the one-touch selection button 21 in turnfrom the upper stage in the left-aligned manner in the display region onthe display screen of the next page, as described above (step 203-2).

It should be noted that, in the display region on the home screen shownin FIG. 15C, “simple copy”, “OFT BOX storage”, “OFT UI decompression”,“usual copy” and “PC storage”, which are ordinary selection buttons 21,are arranged. Neither of these ordinary selection buttons 21 are theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start. Accordingly, thenewly created one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isarranged in a region to the right of the selection button 21 “PCstorage” and in a lower side of the selection button 21 “OFT BOXstorage”, as an example of the region in the display region except forthe top left side region.

Similarly, in the case of the display region on the home screen shown inFIG. 18, “copy”, “OFT BOX storage”, “OFT UI decompression”, “usual copy”and “PC storage”, which are ordinary selection buttons 21, are arranged.Neither of these ordinary selection buttons 21 are the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start. On the other hand, the newlycreated one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is arrangedin a region to the right of the selection button 21 “PC storage” and ina lower side of the selection button 21 “OFT BOX storage”, as an exampleof the region in the display region except for the top left side region.

It should be noted that, for example, in the case where the one-touchselection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen (for example,“one-touch mail transmission”) is to be newly arranged in the statewhere the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is arrangedin the display region on the home screen as shown in FIG. 18, theone-touch selection button 21 for displaying the confirmation screen isarranged to the right of the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start (“one-touch fax transmission”) as shown in FIG. 19 inaccordance with the control by the controller 100 (step 202-2 to step203-2) shown in FIG. 17.

In the exemplary embodiment, in the display region on the home screen,ordinary selection buttons 21 are arranged in a default state. Theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is not arranged inthe top left side region in the display region on the home screen. Here,the top left side region of the display region on the home screen (inparticular, the region A, which is an upper edge and a left edgeenclosed by a broken line in FIGS. 15C, 18 and 19) is a region apt toattract the user's attention in the entire display region on the homescreen, and the icons (the selection buttons) arranged in the attractiveregion are easy to touch.

In the exemplary embodiment, erroneous instructions to execute a processby a user are suppressed, compared to the case where the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is freely arranged in all theregions in the display region. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment,since the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is notarranged in the top left region (for example, the region A) involving apossibility of inadvertent touching by a user, erroneous instructions toexecute a process by a user are suppressed, compared to the case wherearrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start tothe region other than the top left side relative to the center portionof the display region is prohibited.

It should be noted that the selection buttons 21 arranged in the displayregion on the home screen, including the one-touch selection 21 for thedirect start, are able to be moved to arbitrary positions within thedisplay region on the home screen by a moving operation by a user (forexample, an operation to drag and drop the selection button 21 displayedon the home screen). Even in this moving operation, a region where theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start can be arranged islimited by the above-described control of the controller 100.Accordingly, it is impossible to move the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start to such a region, where arrangement thereof isprohibited, by user's operation.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

In a third exemplary embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 10,similar to the above description, the home screen is configured withplural pages, and in default, a display screen of the first page of theplural pages is displayed on the display part 107. Then, by performing aflicking operation on “background” portion other than the selectionbuttons 21 in the page displayed on the display part 107, the pages areswitched. When the pages are switched, other selection buttons 21 thathave not appeared on the display screen of the page displayed before theflicking operation come to appear. In the exemplary embodiment, thedisplay screen of the first page (an example of a first display screen)is displayed in priority to the display screens of the second andsubsequent pages (an example of a second display screen).

In the exemplary embodiment, the one-touch selection button 21 fordisplaying the direct start may be arranged in both the display screenof the first page and the display screen of the second page on the homescreen, whereas, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start in the first page of the home screen may be prohibitedby the control of the controller 100. In other words, the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is arranged in the displayregion on the display screen of the second and subsequent pages on thehome screen by the control of the controller 100.

The process by the controller 100 in this case is as follows as shown inFIG. 20. The creation of the one-touch selection button 21 is completedand stored in the memory 105 (step 301). In arranging the one-touchselection button 21 in the display region on the home screen of thedisplay part 107, the controller 100 determines whether or not theone-touch selection button 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start (step 302). This determination is made in accordancewith the settings of the direct start button 34 selected in creating theone-touch selection button 21. Specifically, in the case where thedirect start button 34 is set to “YES”, the controller 100 determinesthat the one-touch selection button 21 is the one-touch selection button21 for the direct start (YES in step 302). On the other hand, in thecase where the direct start button 34 is set to “NO”, the controller 100determines that the one-touch selection button 21 is not the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (NO in step 302).

If it is determined that controller 100 determines that the one-touchselection button 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart, in arranging the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart in the display region on the home screen, the controller 100arranges the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in oneof the second and subsequent pages (step 304).

If it is determined that controller 100 determines that the one-touchselection button 21 is not the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start, in arranging the one-touch selection button 21 in thedisplay region on the home screen, the controller 100 arranges theone-touch selection button 21 to the right of the selection button 21that has already been displayed in the display region on the home screenin turn. At this time, if there is no space to arrange to the right ofthe selection button 21 and there is a space on a lower stage, theone-touch selection button 21 is arranged on the lower stage in aleft-aligned manner, and if there is no space on the lower stage, thecontroller 100 controls to move to the next page of the home screen, tothereby arrange the one-touch selection button 21 in turn from an upperstage in the left-aligned manner in the display region on the displayscreen of the next page (step 303).

FIGS. 21A and 21B are an example of the one-touch selection button 21arranged on the home screen in this manner. FIG. 21A shows a state inwhich a display screen 107 a of the first page of the home screen isdisplayed on the display part 107 in default, and the newly createdone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start (“one-touch faxtransmission”) is arranged in a display screen 107 b of the second pageof the home screen, however, the display screen 107 b of the second pageis not displayed on the display part 107. Then, by user's flickingoperation on the “background” portion in the first page of the homescreen displayed on the display part 107 to the left direction in thefigure, the display screen displayed on the display part 107 is switchedfrom the display screen 107 a of the first page to the display screen107 b of the second page as shown in FIG. 21B, and thereby the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (“one-touch fax transmission”)having been arranged in the display screen 107 b of the second page isdisplayed.

In the exemplary embodiment thus configured, the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start is not arranged in the display screen ofthe first page of the home screen displayed on the display part 107 indefault, and the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isdisplayed on the display part 107 by way of inputting a switchingoperation (a flicking operation or the like) for the display screendisplayed on the display part 107. Accordingly, in the exemplaryembodiment, erroneous instructions to execute a process by a user aresuppressed, compared to the case where the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start is able to be arranged in both of the displayscreen 107 a of the first page and the display screen 107 b of thesecond page. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, erroneousinstructions to execute a process by a user are suppressed, compared tothe case where the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isarranged in the display region of the display screen 107 a of the firstpage, which is displayed with priority.

It should be noted that, in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the newly createdone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is arranged in thetop left region, which is the top of the display screen 107 b of thesecond page of the home screen; however, the control by the controller100 is not limited thereto, and the control may be performed so that theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is arranged inanother region of the second page, or in the display screen in one ofthe third and subsequent pages (not shown).

However, if the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isarranged in the display screen in one of the third and subsequent pageswithout arranging merely a single selection button 21 in the displayscreen 107 b of the second page, the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start is displayed on the display part 107 by way of a blankpage (the display screen of the second page). In this case, there is apossibility that a user forgets or is not aware of existence of thedisplay screen itself in one of the third and subsequent pages.Consequently, the controller 100 may control so that the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is arranged in the displayregion in the second and subsequent pages in the left-aligned manner,not to generate a blank page.

The third exemplary embodiment includes no difference from the secondexemplary embodiment except for the control of displaying the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start on the home screen by thecontroller 100, and the configuration, operations and effects other thanthose particularly mentioned are same as the configuration, operationsand effects described in the image forming apparatus 10 of the secondexemplary embodiment, and thereby description thereof will be omitted.

It should be noted that the selection buttons 21 arranged in the displayregion on the home screen, including the one-touch selection 21 for thedirect start, are able to be moved to arbitrary positions within thedisplay region on the home screen by a moving operation by a user (forexample, an operation to drag and drop the selection button 21 displayedon the home screen). However, even in the case of the moving operation,a region where the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct startcan be arranged is limited by the above-described control of thecontroller 100. Accordingly, it is impossible to move the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start to such a region, wherearrangement thereof is prohibited, by user's operation.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

In the image forming apparatus 10 of the above-described exemplaryembodiments, in arranging the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start on the home screen, the controller 100 limits the regionwhere the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is able tobe arranged. However, a one-touch selection button 21 created by aperson other than the user is applicable as a target of the control forlimiting the arrangement region. In other words, in displaying thecreated one-touch selection button 21 (an example of a process receivingunit) on the home screen of a user, if the one-touch selection button 21has been created by a person different from the user, the controller 100prohibits arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created bythe person other than the user in a predetermined region in the displayregion of the home screen. Here, the predetermined region, wherearrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user is prohibited, is, for example, the top left sideregion relative to the center of the display region. That is, in theexemplary embodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21created by the person other than the user in the top left side region inthe display region of the home screen is prohibited. It should be notedthat the region on the top left side includes a region on a left sidejust beside if being at vertically the same position, and also includesa straight above region if being at laterally the same position.

In the exemplary embodiment, for example, a one-touch selection button21 that is allowed to be shared by persons other than a user and createdby a person other than the user is arranged in, for example, in anot-shown shared region or the like, and any person who has an authorityto use the image forming apparatus 10 is able to use the one-touchselection button 21 freely, and is able to arrange the one-touchselection button 21 on the home screen of the user. In the case wherethe above-described one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user is arranged by the user in the display region on thehome screen of the user of his/her own, the controller 100 does notsimply arrange the one-touch selection button 21 in a vacant space ofthe display region in the left-aligned manner in turn, but prohibitsarrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user in the predetermined region (in the exemplaryembodiment, for example, the top left region) and arranges the one-touchselection button 21 in a region other than the predetermined region.

This process by the controller 100 is as follows as shown in FIG. 22.The creation of the one-touch selection button 21 is completed andstored in the memory 105 (step 401). In arranging the one-touchselection button 21 in the display region on the home screen of thedisplay part 107, the controller 100 obtains information regarding acreator of the one-touch selection button 21 (step 402). The informationregarding the creator is stored in the memory 105 in association withthe created one-touch selection button 21.

Then, when the controller 100 reads the one-touch selection button 21selected by a user to arrange thereof on the home screen, the controller100 obtains the information regarding the creator of the one-touchselection button 21 by reading the information regarding the creator,which is associated with the one-touch selection button 21, from thememory 105.

Subsequently, based on the read information regarding the creator, thecontroller 100 determines whether or not the creator of the one-touchselection button 21 matches the user (step 403). As described above,since the user of the home screen has been identified by the method ofreading an ID number recorded on an ID card, etc., the controller 100 isable to determine whether or not the user of the home screen matches thecreator of the one-touch selection button 21.

If it is determined that the creator of the one-touch selection buttondoes not match the user (NO in step 403), in arranging the one-touchselection button 21 in the display region of the home screen, thecontroller 100 arranges the one-touch selection button 21 in a regionthat is not the top left side region relative to the center portion(step 405). FIG. 23 is an example of arrangement of the one-touchselection button 21 on the home screen in this manner.

In FIG. 23, buttons represented as “simple copy”, “OFT BOX storage”,“OFT UI decompression”, “usual copy” and “PC storage” are the one-touchselection buttons 21 created by the user himself/herself or otherselection buttons 21, which are the selection buttons 21 set in advance,and a button represented as “one-touch fax transmission” is theone-touch selection button 21 created by a person other than the user.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the creator of the one-touchselection button 21 matches the user (YES in step 403), in arranging theone-touch selection button 21 in the display region of the home screen,the controller 100 arranges the one-touch selection button 21 to theright of the selection button 21 that has already been displayed in thedisplay region on the home screen in turn. If there is no space toarrange to the right of the selection button 21 and there is a space ona lower stage, the one-touch selection button 21 is arranged on thelower stage in a left-aligned manner, and if there is no space on thelower stage, the controller 100 controls to move to the next page of thehome screen, to thereby arrange the one-touch selection button 21 inturn from an upper stage in the left-aligned manner in the displayregion on the display screen of the next page (step 404).

It should be noted that, in the display region of the home screen shownin FIG. 23, ordinary selection buttons 21 “simple copy”, “OFT BOXstorage”, “OFT UI decompression”, “usual copy” and “PC storage” arearranged. None of these ordinary buttons 21 is the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by the person other than the user. The one-touchselection button 21 newly created by the person other than the user(“one-touch fax transmission”) is arranged to the right of the selectionbutton 21 “PC storage” and below the selection button 21 “OFT BOXstorage”, which is an example of a region that is not on the top leftside relative to the center portion of the display region.

The top left side region of the display region on the home screen is aregion apt to attract the user's attention in the entire display regionon the home screen, and the icons (the selection buttons) arranged inthe attractive region are easy to touch. In the exemplary embodiment, inthe region where a user possibly touches inadvertently (in particular,the region A, which is an upper edge and a left edge enclosed by abroken line in FIG. 23), the one-touch selection button 21 created bythe person other than the user is not arranged. Accordingly, in the casewhere a one-touch selection button 21 is created by a person other thana user, instructions for a process provided by erroneous touch of theone-touch selection button 21 by the user are suppressed. Moreover, theexemplary embodiment suppresses erroneous instructions for a processprovided by the user, compared to a case where arrangement of theone-touch selection button 21 created by the person other than the userin a region other than the top left side relative to the center portionof the display region is prohibited.

The fourth exemplary embodiment includes no difference from the secondexemplary embodiment except for the control of displaying the one-touchselection button 21 created by a person other than a user on the homescreen by the controller 100, and the configuration, operations andeffects other than those particularly mentioned are same as theconfiguration, operations and effects described in the image formingapparatus 10 of the second exemplary embodiment, and thereby descriptionthereof will be omitted.

It should be noted that the selection buttons 21 arranged in the displayregion on the home screen, including the one-touch selection 21 createdby a person other than a user, are able to be moved to arbitrarypositions within the display region on the home screen by a movingoperation by a user (for example, an operation to drag and drop theselection button 21 displayed on the home screen). However, even in thecase of the moving operation, a region where the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by a person other than a user can be arranged islimited by the above-described control of the controller 100.Accordingly, it is impossible to move the one-touch selection button 21created by a person other than a user to such a region, wherearrangement thereof is prohibited, by user's operation.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

In a fifth exemplary embodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by a person other than a user in the first page of thehome screen may be prohibited by the control of the controller 100. Inother words, the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start isarranged in the display region on the display screen of the second andsubsequent pages on the home screen by the control of the controller100. The process by the controller 100 in this case is as follows asshown in FIG. 24. The creation of the one-touch selection button 21 iscompleted and stored in the memory 105 (step 501). In arranging theone-touch selection button 21 in the display region on the home screenof the display part 107, the controller 100 obtains informationregarding a creator of the one-touch selection button 21 (step 502).

The information regarding the creator is stored in the memory 105 inassociation with the created one-touch selection button 21. Then, whenthe controller 100 reads the one-touch selection button 21 selected by auser to arrange thereof on the home screen, the controller 100 obtainsthe information regarding the creator of the one-touch selection button21 by reading the information regarding the creator, which is associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21, from the memory 105.

Subsequently, based on the read information regarding the creator, thecontroller 100 determines whether or not the creator of the one-touchselection button 21 matches the user (step 503). As described above,since the user of the home screen has been identified by the method ofreading an ID number recorded on an ID card, etc., the controller 100 isable to determine whether or not the user of the home screen matches thecreator of the one-touch selection button 21.

If it is determined that the creator of the one-touch selection button21 does not match the user (NO in step 503), in arranging the one-touchselection button 21 in the display region of the home screen, thecontroller 100 arranges the one-touch selection button 21 created by theperson other than the user in one of the second and subsequent pages(step 505). On the other hand, if it is determined that the one-touchselection button 21 is created by the user by himself/herself (YES instep 503), the controller 100 arranges the one-touch selection button 21in the display region on the home screen. At this time, the one-touchselection button 21 is arranged in turn to the right of the selectionbutton 21 that has already been displayed in the display region on thehome screen. In the case where there is no space to arrange to the rightof the selection button 21 and there is a space on a lower stage, theone-touch selection button 21 is arranged on the lower stage in aleft-aligned manner. If there is also no space on the lower stage, thecontroller 100 controls to move to the next page of the home screen, tothereby arrange the one-touch selection button 21 in turn from an upperstage in the left-aligned manner in the display region on the displayscreen of the next page (step 504). It should be noted that, in theexemplary embodiment, the display screen of the first page (an exampleof a first display screen) is displayed in priority to the displayscreens of the second and subsequent pages (an example of a seconddisplay screen).

FIGS. 25A and 25B are an example of the one-touch selection button 21arranged on the home screen in this manner. FIG. 25A shows a state inwhich a display screen 107 a of the first page of the home screen isdisplayed on the display part 107 in default, and the one-touchselection button 21 created by the person other than the user to benewly displayed (“one-touch fax transmission”) is arranged in a displayscreen 107 b of the second page of the home screen, however, the displayscreen 107 b of the second page is not displayed on the display part107. Then, by user's flicking operation on the “background” portion inthe first page of the home screen displayed on the display part 107 tothe left direction in the figure, the display screen displayed on thedisplay part 107 is switched from the display screen 107 a of the firstpage to the display screen 107 b of the second page as shown in FIG.25B, and thereby the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user (“one-touch fax transmission”) having been arrangedin the display screen 107 b of the second page is displayed.

In the exemplary embodiment configured in this manner, the one-touchselection button 21 created by the person other than the user is notarranged in the display screen of the first page of the home screendisplayed on the display part 107 in default, and the one-touchselection button 21 created by the person other than the user isdisplayed on the display part 107 by way of inputting a switchingoperation (a flicking operation or the like) for the display screendisplayed on the display part 107. Accordingly, in the exemplaryembodiment, erroneous instructions to execute a process by a user aresuppressed, compared to the case where the one-touch selection button 21is created by the person other than the user and the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is able to be arranged in both of the display screen 107 a ofthe first page and the display screen 107 b of the second page.Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, erroneous instructions to executea process by a user are suppressed, compared to the case where theone-touch selection button 21 created by the person other than the useris arranged in the display region of the display screen 107 a of thefirst page, which is displayed with priority.

It should be noted that, in FIGS. 25A and 25B, the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by the person other than the user is arranged in thetop left region, which is the top of the display screen 107 b of thesecond page of the home screen. However, the control by the controller100 is not limited thereto, and the control may be performed so that theone-touch selection button 21 created by the person other than the useris arranged in another region of the second page, or in the displayscreen in one of the third and subsequent pages (not shown).

However, if the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user is arranged in the display screen in one of thethird and subsequent pages without arranging merely a single selectionbutton 21 in the display screen 107 b of the second page, the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start is displayed on the displaypart 107 by way of a blank page (the display screen of the second page).In this case, there is a possibility that a user forgets or is not awareof existence of the display screen itself in one of the third andsubsequent pages. Consequently, the controller 100 may control so thatthe one-touch selection button 21 created by the person other than theuser is arranged in the display region in the second and subsequentpages in the left-aligned manner, not to generate a blank page.

The fifth exemplary embodiment includes no difference from the secondexemplary embodiment except for the control of displaying the one-touchselection button 21 created by a person other than a user on the homescreen by the controller 100, and the configuration, operations andeffects other than those particularly mentioned are same as theconfiguration, operations and effects described in the image formingapparatus 10 of the second exemplary embodiment, and thereby descriptionthereof will be omitted.

It should be noted that the selection buttons 21 arranged in the displayregion on the home screen, including the one-touch selection 21 createdby a person other than a user, are able to be moved to arbitrarypositions within the display region on the home screen by a movingoperation by a user (for example, an operation to drag and drop theselection button 21 displayed on the home screen). However, even in thecase of the moving operation, a region where the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by a person other than a user can be arranged islimited by the above-described control of the controller 100.Accordingly, it is impossible to move the one-touch selection button 21created by a person other than a user to such a region, wherearrangement thereof is prohibited, by user's operation.

Sixth Exemplary Embodiment

In the image forming apparatus 10 in each of the second to fifthexemplary embodiments, the controller 100 controls so that, in arrangingthe one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start or the one-touchselection button 21 created by a person other than a user, a regionwhere the one-touch selection button 21 is limited. In the image formingapparatus 10 in a sixth exemplary embodiment, the controller 100performs control so that movement of the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start or the one-touch selection button 21 created by theperson other than the user to the prohibited region is permitted afterthe number of times of starting the process associated with thoseone-touch selection buttons 21 reaches a preset number of times byselecting the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start or theone-touch selection button 21 created by the person other than the user,even though the region to arrange the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start or the one-touch selection button created by the personother than the user is limited in the image forming apparatus 10 in thesecond to fifth exemplary embodiments.

That is, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the second exemplaryembodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start in the top left side region relative to the center portionof the display region is prohibited on the home screen. However, in thesixth exemplary embodiment, after the one-touch selection button 21 forthe direct start is started not less than the preset number of times,movement of the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start tothe top left side region, where arrangement of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 for the direct start is prohibited, is permitted by thecontrol of the controller 100. In other words, in the exemplaryembodiment, based on a status of utilization of the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, by thecontrol of the controller 100, prohibition of arrangement of theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in the region wherearrangement thereof is prohibited is cancelled, or is able to becancelled.

Moreover, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the third exemplaryembodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start in the display screen 107 a of the first page is prohibitedon the home screen. However, in the sixth exemplary embodiment, afterthe one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start is started notless than the preset number of times, movement of the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start to the display screen 107 a ofthe first page, where arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21for the direct start is prohibited, is permitted on the home screen bythe control of the controller 100. In other words, in the exemplaryembodiment, based on a status of utilization of the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start, by thecontrol of the controller 100, prohibition of arrangement of theone-touch selection button 21 for the direct start in the region wherearrangement thereof is prohibited is cancelled, or is able to becancelled.

Moreover, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the fourth exemplaryembodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created bythe person other than the user in the top left side region relative tothe center portion of the display region is prohibited on the homescreen. However, in the sixth exemplary embodiment, after the one-touchselection button 21 created by the person other than the user is startednot less than the preset number of times, movement of the one-touchselection button 21 created by the person other than the user to the topleft side region, where arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21created by the person other than the user is prohibited, is permitted bythe control of the controller 100. In other words, in the exemplaryembodiment, based on a status of utilization of the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21 created by the person other thanthe user, by the control of the controller 100, prohibition ofarrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user in the region where arrangement thereof isprohibited is cancelled, or is able to be cancelled.

Moreover, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the fifth exemplaryembodiment, arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created bythe person other than the user in the display screen 107 a of the firstpage is prohibited on the home screen. However, in the sixth exemplaryembodiment, after the one-touch selection button 21 created by theperson other than the user is started not less than the preset number oftimes, movement of the one-touch selection button 21 created by theperson other than the user to the display screen 107 a of the firstpage, where arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created bythe person other than the user is prohibited, is permitted on the homescreen by the control of the controller 100. In other words, in theexemplary embodiment, based on a status of utilization of the processassociated with the one-touch selection button 21 created by the personother than the user, by the control of the controller 100, prohibitionof arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 created by theperson other than the user in the region where arrangement thereof isprohibited is cancelled, or is able to be cancelled.

In the image forming apparatus 10 in the sixth exemplary embodiment, thenumber of times of starting the one-touch selection button 21 for thedirect start or the number of times of starting the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by the person other than the user is counted by thecontroller 100 every time these one-touch selection buttons 21 areselected and started, and the number of times of starting is stored pereach one-touch selection button 21 in the memory 105. Then, the processby the controller 100 to perform control of movement of the selectionbutton 21 in the display region on the home screen is as shown in FIG.26. If a user drags the one-touch selection button 21 to be moved, thecontroller 100 detects the moving operation (step 601), and thecontroller 100 obtains information regarding a creator associated withthe one-touch selection button 21 (step 602).

The information regarding the creator is obtained as described in thefourth and fifth exemplary embodiments.

Next, the controller 100 obtains the number of times of starting theone-touch selection button 21 from the memory 105 (step 603). Then, thecontroller 100 determines whether or not the number of times of startingis not less than the preset number of times (step 604).

The preset number of times may be stored in the ROM 103 in thecontroller 100 in the non-rewritable manner or may be stored in the RAM104 in the controller 100 in a rewritable manner. Moreover, the presetnumber of times is set experimentally or empirically as a number oftimes of the order, in which, for example, even if the one-touchselection button 21 is arranged in the prohibited region, it isconsidered that a user does not erroneously select and start theone-touch selection button 21.

If the controller 100 determines that the number of times of startingobtained from the memory 105 is not less than the preset number of times(YES in step 604), the controller 100 permits movement of the one-touchselection button 21 to an arbitrary region in the display region on thehome screen against the moving operation to drag and drop by the user,and arranges the one-touch selection button 21 in the region where theuser carries out the operation to drop (step 605).

On the other hand, if the controller 100 determines that the number oftimes of starting obtained from the memory 105 is less than the presetnumber of times (NO in step 604), the controller 100 determines whetheror not the creator of the one-touch selection button 21 matches the user(step 606). If the controller 100 determines that the creator of theone-touch selection button 21 matches the user (YES in step 606), thecontroller 100 subsequently determines whether or not the one-touchselection button 21 is the one-touch selection button 21 for the directstart (step 607).

Then, if the controller 100 determines that the one-touch selectionbutton 21 is not the one-touch selection button 21 for the direct start(NO in step 607), the controller 100 permits movement of the one-touchselection button 21 to an arbitrary region in the display region on thehome screen against the moving operation to drag and drop by the user,and arranges the one-touch selection button 21 in the region where theuser carries out the operation to drop (step 605).

On the other hand, if the controller 100 determines that the creator ofthe one-touch selection button 21 does not match the user (NO in step606) and that the one-touch selection button 21 is the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start (YES in step 607), thecontroller 100 does not permit movement of the one-touch selectionbutton 21 to the prohibited region of the display region on the homescreen against the moving operation to drag and drop by the user. Then,the controller 100 permits movement of the one-touch selection button 21within a range of a region other than the region prohibited against theone-touch selection button 21 (step 608). As a result, in the case wherethe user carries out the operation to drop in the permitted region, theone-touch selection button 21 is arranged in the region where theoperation to drop is carried out, whereas, in the case where the usercarries out the operation to drop in the prohibited region, theone-touch selection button 21 is returned to and arranged in an originalregion where the one-touch selection button 21 exists before the movingoperation.

In this manner, in the image forming apparatus 10 in the sixth exemplaryembodiment, even though a one-touch selection button 21 is the one-touchselection button 21 for the direct start or the one-touch selectionbutton 21 created by a person other than a user, after a number of timesof starting thereof reaches a preset number of times, each one-touchselection button 21 is able to be arranged in a region where arrangementthereof has been prohibited because a possibility of inadvertentexecution is reduced.

It should be noted that, in the sixth exemplary embodiment, prohibitionof arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 in the predeterminedregion where arrangement thereof is prohibited is cancelled inaccordance with the number of times of starting the process associatedwith the one-touch selection button 21, arrangement of which in thepredetermined region is prohibited. However, the process of cancellingthe prohibition of arrangement is not limited in accordance with thenumber of times of starting. That is, the controller 100 may cancelprohibition of arrangement of the one-touch selection button 21 in thepredetermined region where arrangement thereof is prohibited inaccordance with a status of utilization of the process associated withthe one-touch selection button 21, arrangement of which in thepredetermined region is prohibited.

Here, “status of utilization of process” is an item that indicates theextent of utilization of the process, such as a number of times ofexecution of the process, a processing time of a processing apparatusand a number of times of receiving the process. However, the status ofutilization of the process is not limited to these exemplified items,and a combination of the plural exemplified items or an item todetermine the status of utilization of the process by use of informationother than these may be used.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theexemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explainthe principles of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A processing apparatus comprising: a processingunit that performs a predetermined process; a creation portion thatcreates a process receiving portion for receiving an instruction of aprocess; and a display unit that displays the process receiving portionin a display region, wherein, in a case where a creator of the processreceiving portion and a user of a display screen is different,arrangement of the process receiving portion in a predetermined regionof the display region is prohibited.
 2. The processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the predetermined region is set on a topleft side of the display region relative to a center thereof.
 3. Aprocessing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that performs apredetermined process; a creation portion that creates a processreceiving portion for receiving an instruction of a process; and adisplay unit that displays the process receiving portion in a displayregion and displays a first display screen and a second display screen,wherein, in a case where a creator of the process receiving portion anda user of the display screen is different, arrangement of the processreceiving portion in a display region of the first display screen isprohibited.
 4. The processing apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe first display screen is displayed in priority to the second displayscreen.
 5. The processing apparatus according to claim 3, whereinprohibition of arrangement of the process receiving portion in a regionwhere arrangement thereof is prohibited is canceled or is able to becanceled based on a status of utilization of a process by the processingunit.
 6. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a programthat causes a computer to execute a process comprising: causing aprocessing unit to perform a predetermined process; creating a processreceiving portion for receiving an instruction of a process; displayingthe process receiving portion in a display region; and, in a case wherea creator of the process receiving portion and a user of a displayscreen is different, prohibiting arrangement of the process receivingportion in a predetermined region of the display region.
 7. Anon-transitory computer readable medium storing a program that causes acomputer to execute a process comprising: causing a processing unit toperform a predetermined process; creating a process receiving portionfor receiving an instruction of a process; displaying the processreceiving portion in a display region and displaying a first displayscreen and a second display screen; and, in a case where a creator ofthe process receiving portion and a user of a display screen isdifferent, prohibiting arrangement of the process receiving portion in adisplay region of the first display screen.